Jazz Festival - University of Houston
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Moores School of Music
Bill Evans wearing a bandana and playing the saxophone

Jazz Festival

University of Houston Moores School of Music Presents the

25th Anniversary Jazz Festival

February 24-25, 2023

Featuring world class saxophonist and producer, Bill Evans

Join us in celebrating 25 years of extraordinary jazz at the University of Houston with two nights of can’t-miss concerts!

  • 25th Anniversary Jazz Fest Concerts

    Saturday, February 25, 2022 | 7:30 PM

    The Moores School of Music's Jazz Orchestra, Houston's next generation of jazz masters-in-training, will welcome special guest headliner saxophonist Bill Evans for a night of incandescent and incredible music, directed by, Noe Marmolejo.

    Get Tickets Here  

     

  • Jazz Fest Student Bands: Juried Performances and Clinics

    For college, high school, junior high, and middle School jazz bands and combos 

    Jazz students and teachers – come be a part of Houston's jazz history.  

    Register your band or combo HERE.  

    PERFORMANCES & CLINICS:

    Throughout the day on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, registered college, high school, junior high, and middle school jazz bands and combos will perform in the UH Moores Opera House.  Each registered band will have a thirty-minute performance slot followed by a thirty-minute judges’ clinic immediately following.   

    At noon on Friday and Saturday, guest artist Bill Evans will present a FREE clinic in the Moores Opera House that is open to all participating bands and the general public.  

    AWARDS:

    As usual, awards will be given for outstanding MS/HS bands of each day, as well as for the festival. In addition, All Star awards will be presented to soloists along with outstanding MS/HS soloist of the day and the festival. In a change for this year, All Star awards will be given throughout the day and included in the judges’ packets given to the directors. All Outstanding Festival awards will be presented on Saturday, February 25, the Outstanding Awards for each day will be presented on both Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25. 

 

 

Featuring Bill Evans, Saxophone

  • “Who do Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock and an extensive list of rock icons have in common? Bill Evans, that’s who.” 
Black and white photo of Bill Evans playing the tenor saxophone

Bill Evans is a world class saxophonist and producer who made his debut on the international music scene in the 1980’s with Miles Davis (at the age of 21) and recorded 6 records with Davis. This led to touring and recording with the likes of John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock and Mick Jagger to name a few.

Today, with 26 solo albums to date, Grammy nods, and countless collaborations and tours, Evans has continued to explore a dazzling variety of adventurous musical settings as a pioneering bandleader, consistently winning fans in the worldwide arena. 

This February, Evans comes to the University of Houston for the Moores School of Music 25th Annual Jazz Festival.

Bill Evans in a black shirt playing the tenor sax

Registration for Bands & Combos

To register for the 2023 Jazz Festival, click HERE

Schedule: Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by activities and events from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: University of Houston, Moores School of Music
3333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, Tx 77204  

 

All attendees must register online by Monday, January 30, 2023. 

Big Band $300
College Combo $300
Middle/High School Combo $250

Moores School of Music will be accepting registrations until January 30, 2023. Based on availability, directors can email CAA@central.uh.edu to inquire about late registration.   

For other inquiries, please email CAA@central.uh.edu or call 713.743.3398. 

Bill Evans and his band