Jazz Festival

2023 TCU Jazz Festival

The TCU School of Music and Department of Jazz Studies is proud to announce this year’s Festival guest artist is saxophonist Bob Mintzer. Please join us the weekend of March 24-25 for the TCU Jazz Festival 2023!

Bob Mintzer is a saxophonist/arranger/educator who resides in Los Angeles. He is currently holds the Barbara and Buzz McCoy endowed chair at the USC Thornton School of Music. Bob is a 30 year member as saxophonist with the Yellowjackets. He is also the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne Germany. Bob has written over 500 big band arrangements, several jazz study books, orchestral and chamber works. He has played on over 1000 recordings and has performed with Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, Eddie Palmieri, Jaco Pastorius, Mike Manieri, Randy Brecker, and the New York Philharmonic.

On Friday, March 24, the TCU Jazz Ensembles and Mr. Mintzer will have a dress rehearsal that is free and open to the public (7:30PM). On Saturday, March 25, Mr. Mintzer will perform with the TCU Jazz Ensembles at 7:30PM—tickets are $10/$5/Free with TCU ID. Both events are scheduled in Ed Landreth Auditorium.

Festival Concert Tickets
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Band Directors
Ensemble Participant Registration – Click Here to Register Your Ensemble
Jazz Festival registration is currently closed. Please contact band@tcu.edu to be placed on a waiting list.
• The Band Competition is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2023

2023 TCU Jazz Festival Tentative Schedule

March 25, 2023
All bands will warm-up 30 minutes prior to their assigned performance time

PepsiCo Recital Hall (Warm-up room Walsh 104)

9:00 AM McClean MS (warm-up on stage)

9:30 AM Hays MS

10:00 AM Ennis MS

10:30 AM Austin Academy (II)

11:00 AM Austin Academy (I)

11:30 AM Seguin HS (V)

12:00 PM Bob Mintzer Clinic – PepsiCo

1:00 PM Ennis HS (V)

1:30 PM North Side HS (V)

2:00 PM Birdville HS (JV)

2:30 PM Aledo HS (JV)

3:00 PM Granbury HS (V)

3:30 PM Lake Belton HS (V)

4:00 PM Aledo HS (V)

4:30 PM Birdville HS (V)

5:00 PM Denison HS (V)

Ed Landreth Auditorium (Warm up room Walsh 203)

9:00 AM Aubrey HS (warm up on stage)

9:30 AM Sunnyvale HS

10:00 AM Troy HS

10:30 AM Paschal HS (V)

11:00 AM Grand Prairie (JV)

11:30 AM Rockwall Heath (JV)

12:00 PM Bob Mintzer Clinic – PepsiCo

1:00 PM Midway HS (JV)

1:30 PM Waco HS (5A) (V)

2:00 PM Pachal HS (V)

2:30 PM Grand Prairie (V)

3:00 PM Rockwall Heath HS (V)

3:30 PM Martin HS (V)

4:00 PM Midway HS (V)

4:30 PM Rockwall HS (V)

5:00 PM Waxahachie HS (V)

Celebrating over 40 years of TCU Jazz

The annual TCU Jazz Festival has become one of the most prestigious festivals in the state, connecting high school and middle school jazz ensembles with guest artists and TCU’s jazz faculty. Since its inception in 1978, the event has attracted more than 20,000 talented high school players. In addition, bands have attended the TCU Jazz Festival from as far away as Oklahoma, Tennessee, Iowa, and Hawaii.

The TCU Jazz Ensembles have appeared in concert with such notable international jazz artists as Duffy Jackson, John Fedchock, Joey DeFrancesco, Paquito D’Rivera, Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Hank Levy, Don Menza, Urbie Green, Mike Vax, Ed Shaughnessy, Pete Christlieb, Ashley Alexander, Frank Mantooth, Roger Pemberton, Roy Hargrove, Willie Thomas, Carl Fontana, Jon Faddis, Shelton Berg, Rich Matteson, Leon Breeden, Patrick Williams, Marvin Stamm, Onzie Matthews, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Bozzio, Will Calhoun, Dom Famulara, Chester Thompson, Tony Campisi, Peanuts Hucko, the Hal Galper Trio, Chris Vadala, Conte Candoli, Vince DiMartino, Bill Watrous, Dave Pietro, Allen Vizzutti, Carl Saunders, Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Joe Eckert, SMSGT Joe Jackson, The Four Freshmen, Howard Johnson, Morris Repass, Mario Cruz and Alex Iles.

For further information, contact:
Joe Eckert
Director of Jazz Studies
817-257-5576
j.eckert@tcu.edu
817-257-5576