Richeson has led LUP脡 to significant success over nearly four decades. The ensemble has released two well-received albums and has been honored by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society. Watching the success of former students after they graduate is part of the reward, Richeson said.

鈥淢any of the graduates from 麻豆影院鈥檚 percussion program have gone on to professional careers of their own in music education and performance,鈥� he said.

Richeson has forged an impressive performance career of his own, and he brings those experiences back to his teaching. He has been featured as a solo marimbist, contemporary chamber music percussionist, world percussion specialist, and jazz drummer and has performed with such notable artists as Bobby McFerrin, Gordon Stout, Nancy Zeltsman, and Gunther Schuller. His research has allowed him to live, study, and teach in three distinctly different cultures: Ghana, studying the music and dance of the Ewe people; Matanzas, Cuba, where he worked with celebrated Afro-Cuban drummers; and Salvador and Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he studied the drumming traditions of the State of Bahia.

鈥淭he award also reflects on the great teachers and other mentors I have had in my lifetime,鈥� Richeson said. 鈥淚 have been very lucky with the serendipity of meeting and befriending some powerful musicians who have guided me along the way. One of them is Nancy Zeltsman, who nominated me for this award. I can鈥檛 thank her enough. This award also helps get the word out about our great University and Conservatory.鈥�

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 and聽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�