尝补飞谤别苍肠别鈥檚 has now brought home DownBeat Awards 34 times over the past four-plus decades.聽This is the second time in three years the program has won two awards in the same year. Encarnaci贸n credits the students’ commitment to a wide range of music.

鈥淭he students we get here are smart, they鈥檙e curious, they like to explore,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, we bring them different kinds of music, and they鈥檙e in, they鈥檙e engaged. For me, it鈥檚 seeing how they grow, how they engage with the art. That鈥檚 the reward.鈥�

The work of faculty across the Conservatory, Encarnaci贸n added, is a collective effort that shows up in the stellar performances of music students both individually and in ensembles.聽

鈥淭he DownBeat Awards speak to the talent, teamwork, and collegiality that makes the Conservatory thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is an honor and an inspiration to work with everyone involved in this process. Winning two awards in the same year again demonstrates enormous program depth.鈥�

For Encarnaci贸n鈥檚 contest entry in the Latin Group category, he submitted three charts from a performance during the 2024 Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration. Students were studying a different musical genre that included Afro-Cuban and Venezuelan rhythms.聽

鈥淭hese are very challenging to play, especially for the rhythm section,鈥� he said.聽

For Darling鈥檚 Jazz Ensemble entry, she submitted three contemporary charts that聽are challenging to play聽and require excellent musicianship from every member of the ensemble. In addition, they call for significant improvisation.

鈥淚t is fun to work on compositions like this because improvisation is woven throughout the fabric of the music,聽and it is rewarding for everyone to hear how it聽all comes together,鈥� she said.

The awards speak to the high level of consistency that has been built into a jazz program with an impressive track record dating back to the 1970s. Now led by Encarnaci贸n, it is among the best undergraduate jazz programs in the country.

鈥淲ith evening performances by incredible guest artists Alicia Olatuja and Magos Herrera, and LU student groups performing throughout the day, it is a joy to celebrate and recognize the contributions of women in jazz at this year鈥檚 festival,鈥� said Patty Darling, instructor of music and director of the award-winning 麻豆影院 University Jazz Ensemble.

Jazz Weekend was the vision of the late Fred Sturm, who launched it as a non-competitive music festival for high school and middle school students interested in playing and learning about jazz. It has attracted a long list of jazz luminaries who have performed on the Memorial Chapel stage, among them Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Bobby McFerrin, and Cassandra Wilson. Last year鈥檚 Jazz Weekend festival included a concert by Samara Joy, who would go on to win Best New Artist honors at the Grammy Awards four months later.

鈥淲e are excited to have 27 groups from 18 different schools here this year,鈥� Darling said. 鈥淚n addition, there will be lots of performances from 麻豆影院 jazz groups including six combos, Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble.鈥�

The goal of Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend is to create a low-stress clinic environment鈥攏o trophies or ratings鈥攅arly in the school year, and inspire students with workshops led by renowned clinicians and 麻豆影院 faculty, Darling said. Students learn about improvisation, jazz language and style, and get the opportunity to hear performances from other schools.聽

For full event details, visit聽.

Guest artists

7:30 p.m. Nov. 3: Alicia Olatuja Quintet. Listening to acclaimed vocalist, composer, and arranger聽Alicia Olatuja is an unforgettable experience. Olatuja gained global recognition for her vocal performance during President Obama鈥檚 second inauguration, and she has been praised in the聽New York Times聽as 鈥渁 singer with a strong and luscious tone.鈥�

7:30 p.m. Nov. 4: Magos Herrera Quartet. A dazzling jazz singer-songwriter, producer, and educator known for her sultry voice and unique presence in the Latin American jazz scene,聽Magos Herrera鈥檚聽style blends contemporary jazz with Ibero-American melodies and rhythms, transcending language barriers. With nine albums and collaborations with renowned producer Javier Lim贸n, she has received accolades and performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide.

Also on Saturday鈥檚 schedule:

8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: High school & middle school clinics

10-11:30 a.m.: LU Mary Lou, Melba, and Elvin combos in Cloak Theater (free)

1:30 p.m.: 麻豆影院 University Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Band concert in Memorial Chapel (free; also available via )

3-4 p.m.: LU Thelonious and Miles combos in Cloak Theater (free)

Tickets for evening concerts: Purchase tickets from the LU Box Office (920-832-6749) or online. The Box Office is open Monday-Saturday from 1-6 p.m. and an hour prior to events. Adults: $30/$25; seniors: $25/$20; LU faculty/staff: $10/$9; students (LU and non-LU): Free

In addition, 麻豆影院 students Reese Pike and Vivian Shanley have formed a new student group, the Jazz and Gender Equity Initiative (JGEI), which champions the contributions women and non-binary people have made to the art form of jazz. They have organized performance events on campus and done other outreach. A combo comprised of JGEI members will be performing on the Saturday afternoon showcase concert.聽

Some of the visiting high school and middle school bands will play commissioned charts that Conservatory faculty and students provided in advance. 麻豆影院 senior saxophonist Owen Brady composed a Jazz Weekend piece, Bear in Mind, and Darling composed a chart for the bands. That continues a tradition first established by Sturm when he was leading the jazz program.

鈥淲e are honored to continue Fred鈥檚 tradition of a non-competitive festival where everyone is welcome and encouraged to listen, learn, and play together,鈥� Darling said.

The聽DownBeatAwards, now in their 46th year and featured in the magazine’s June edition, are among the highest honors in jazz education.聽Pertl called it 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� for two 麻豆影院 ensembles to win top awards in the same year.

鈥淓ven more amazing is that with these two awards, it means that 麻豆影院 has garnered six top DownBeat Awards in the past six years,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is a remarkable run.鈥�

尝补飞谤别苍肠别鈥檚 jazz program has now brought home DownBeat Awards 32 times over the past four-plus decades.聽Winning two in the same year 鈥渄emonstrates enormous program depth,鈥� Pertl said.聽

The Latin Group award came for a concert performance delivered by the Jazz Band in the fall as part of 尝补飞谤别苍肠别鈥檚 annual Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend. It featured music from Venezuela, Africa, and Cuba.

鈥淲e went into it with a lot of different concepts about how to approach the music, how to feel the music,鈥� Encarnaci贸n said. 鈥淭his is music that鈥檚 coming from different parts of the world. What was amazing was the response from the students. They embraced everything about it.鈥�

The winning entry in the Large Jazz Ensemble category, meanwhile, came from a series of performances from LUJE last spring and this fall. They featured contemporary music compositions that required a lot of improvisation.

鈥淭he passion, the execution, it was there,鈥� Darling said.

The awards speak to the high-level of consistency that has been built in a jazz program with an impressive track record dating back to the 1970s. Now led by Encarnaci贸n, the program has been intentional in diversifying its repertoire in recent years, exploring sounds from around the globe.

鈥淭he students we get here are smart, they鈥檙e curious, they like to explore. So, we bring them different kinds of music, and they鈥檙e in, they鈥檙e engaged.”
– Jose Encarnaci贸n, director of jazz studies

鈥淭he creative process is the most important thing,鈥� Encarnaci贸n said. 鈥淭he students we get here are smart, they鈥檙e curious, they like to explore. So, we bring them different kinds of music, and they鈥檙e in, they鈥檙e engaged. For me, it鈥檚 seeing how they grow, how they engage with the art. That is so rewarding for all of us, and it is an honor for our students to be recognized for the work they are doing.鈥�

Darling said the work of faculty across the Conservatory is a collective effort that shows up in the stellar performances of music students both individually and in ensembles. The DownBeat Awards speak to the talent, teamwork, and collegiality that makes the Conservatory thrive.

鈥淥ur jazz faculty are incredible musicians and jazz educators,鈥� Darling said. 鈥淪tudents learn so much from them in their private lessons, classes, and in combos, and that is the foundation of the work we are doing in the jazz ensembles. Doing it together, especially after the pandemic, there鈥檚 a heightened appreciation and joy in the collaborative creative process.鈥�

Take a listen

• Hear the 麻豆影院 University Jazz Ensemble:聽 补苍诲听
• Hear the聽麻豆影院 University Jazz Band (Latin Jazz):

Joy is in concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in Memorial Chapel.

Teague and the Jazz Ensemble, LU Jazz Faculty, and LUPE (麻豆影院 University Percussion Ensemble) will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, also in Memorial Chapel. Tickets for each performance are $25-$30, .

This will mark the first fully in-person Jazz Weekend since 2019. The weekend was limited to the 麻豆影院 community last year because of pandemic restrictions.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited to have all the students back from the high schools and middle schools,鈥� said Jos茅 L. Encarnaci贸n, associate professor of music and director of jazz studies.

Encarnaci贸n and Patty Darling, instructor of music and director of the award-winning LU Jazz Ensemble, together with Jillian Johnson, director of conservatory programming, are organizing this year’s聽Jazz Weekend.聽聽There is huge enthusiasm from the 18 schools that are bringing their bands to campus, Darling said.

鈥淔red intended this to be a non-competitive festival,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he focus is on learning. There are no trophies. Nobody wins. It is, just come in, learn jazz language 补苍诲听style, and explore improvisation.鈥�

The weekend will include a focus on women in jazz, from composers to performers. Continuing Sturm鈥檚 tradition, 麻豆影院聽senior Lucy Croasdale, a saxophone student, and Darling have created聽new, free jazz聽ensemble compositions聽that have been distributed聽to all participating schools.聽

There is a buzz about the Samara Joy performance slotted for Friday night. She followed up her winning the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International聽Jazz Vocal Competition with the 2021 release of a self-titled debut album,聽backed by the Pasquale Grasso Trio.聽She was then signed by Verve Records, and her Verve debut, Linger Awhile, was released last month.

鈥淪he鈥檚 just amazing,鈥� Encarnaci贸n said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 like 22 and people are already comparing her to Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald. Those are big, big names. She comes from a family of musicians and she鈥檚 drawing on so many influences. At that early age, to be at that level with her control, her range, her maturity in her singing, it鈥檚 just incredible.鈥�

Teague, meanwhile, brings a different sound than what鈥檚 been featured at Jazz Weekend in the past.

Encarnaci贸n first met Teague, head of steelpan studies and professor of music at Northern Illinois University, during an online music conference in the midst of the pandemic.

鈥淚 was completely blown away by the way he plays that instrument,鈥� Encarnaci贸n said.

Jazz Weekend organizers are working to place a camera above Teague so the audience can see his hand movements on an overhead screen during the performance.

鈥淭he band is loving his music,鈥� Darling said of the Jazz Ensemble rehearsals. 鈥淗e sent four charts to rehearse and his music is beautiful. It鈥檚 some of the most rhythmically, melodically connected music I鈥檝e ever heard. 鈥� It鈥檚 challenging but it鈥檚 so much fun to play.鈥�

Ike Sturm + HEART, with featured guest Donny McCaslin, will be in concert in the Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Sturm is the son of the late Fred Sturm, who helped launch and lead 尝补飞谤别苍肠别鈥檚 jazz program during his more than 25 years on the 麻豆影院 faculty. He passed away in 2014 following a long battle with cancer.

Saturday鈥檚 concert will be a special celebration of Fred Sturm鈥檚 legacy.

Brian Pertl, dean of the Conservatory, said the 40th anniversary is a special time to honor everything Sturm brought to 麻豆影院. Adding the campus-wide workshops was done with Sturm in mind.

鈥淔red Sturm loved jazz, improvisation, and the community it created,鈥� Pertl said.

He launched Jazz Celebration Weekend in 1981 as a non-competitive music event, bringing high school and middle school students to campus to play, learn about, and celebrate jazz. The pandemic has altered things this year, but it has not dimmed the enthusiasm.

鈥淲e will still have our two amazing evening concerts, but since we couldn鈥檛 welcome the 1,000 high school musicians who usually attend, we came up with the idea to honor Fred by making the event a campus celebration of jazz and improvisation and musical exploration for our entire 麻豆影院 community,鈥� Pertl said.聽鈥淚n her matriculation convocation, President Carter urged us to find comfort with discomfort, to try new things, dive into new experiences.聽Here is our chance to try improvisatory dance, songwriting, jazz singing, Deep Listening, samba drumming, Balinese gamelan, a big band session for anyone who plays any instrument, and an improvising orchestra for classical strings players who have never improvised before. What better way to take a break from the stresses of eighth聽week than to move and groove and sing and dance.聽Fred would be beaming from ear to ear, and I can鈥檛 think of a better way to honor his love of jazz and his legacy as a virtuoso educator.鈥�

Ticket information for the Friday and Saturday evening concerts can be found at the聽.

There also will be Saturday concerts featuring the 麻豆影院 University Jazz Combos and the 麻豆影院 University Jazz Band.聽The Jazz Combos perform from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Harper Hall. The Jazz Band will perform from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 163 of the Music-Drama Center. Both have free admission. You can access the聽.

The new workshops added this year for the campus community have free admission.

鈥淓veryone on campus is welcome,鈥� Darling said. 鈥淵ou need not play an instrument to attend.鈥�

The Saturday workshops include:

• Dance Collective with Margaret Paek, 10 a.m.-noon in Esch Studio;

• Songwriting with Loren Dempster, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Shattuck 156;

• Deep Listening with Brian Pertl and Leila Ramagopal Pertl, 2-3 p.m. in Shattuck 156;

• Fundamentals of Jazz Singing with Janet Planet and John Harmon, 2-3 p.m. in Harper Hall;

• Improv for All with Patty Darling and 麻豆影院 jazz students, 3-4 p.m. in Shattuck 156;

• Jazz for Strings with Matt Turner, 3-4 p.m. in Shattuck 163;

• Balinese Gamelan with Sonja Downing and Dewa Adnyana, 3-4 p.m. in Mursell House;

• Samba Drumming with the Sambistas, 4-5 p.m. in Shattuck 163.

鈥淪everal of these workshops and all of the concerts will be livestreamed so our Jazz Weekend high school and middle school students and directors can participate as well,鈥� Darling said. 鈥淲e are excited about this opportunity to bring everyone together to create, connect and explore, as well as showcase some of the great things happening in our Conservatory.鈥�