High School Jazz Bands to Participate in the 2024 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Around 150 students representing seven jazz bands from six area high schools will participate in the 2024 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival on Friday, February 9, 2024, in Heritage Center.

Hosted by UD's Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the festival will offer students a day of musical activities including the opportunity for each high school jazz band to hold an interactive rehearsal with clinicians. The clinicians are James Dreier, MA, emeritus professor of instruction in jazz students at the University of Iowa, and Steve Citta, retired director of bands at Waterloo West High School and Waterloo Community Schools.

Additionally, students will attend instrument-specific masterclasses offered by members of the Cab Calloway Orchestra and receive complimentary tickets to the orchestra's evening performance.

The 2024 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival will also include a campus tour and dinner at the Barbara and Jack Smeltzer Dining Hall in Peters Commons.

The festival will conclude when the jazz band students attend a public performance by the Cab Calloway Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center. For more information about the orchestra or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dbq.edu/HeritageCenter.

The jazz bands participating in the 2024 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival include:

• Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit, Wisconsin - Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra and Beloit Memorial Jazz Ensemble
• Central DeWitt High School, DeWitt, Iowa - Swingin' Sabers Jazz One
• Denver High School, Denver, Iowa - Denver High School Jazz Band
• Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Waverly, Iowa - Waverly-Shell Rock High School Jazz 2
• West Liberty High School, West Liberty, Iowa - West Liberty High School Jazz Band
• Western Dubuque High School, Epworth, Iowa - Western Dubuque Big Band