Jazz Fest Invitation
October 1, 2014
Dear Jazz Director;
We would like to take this opportunity to extend a special invitation to you and your jazz ensemble, vocal jazz
ensemble, and/or combo to be a part of the University of Louisville Jazz Festival, Friday February 27, 2015 and/or
Saturday, February 28, 2015. This invitation-only festival will be the culmination of a multiple-day celebration of
jazz here on the University of Louisville campus. While we would prefer to schedule college big bands, combos,
and vocal groups on Friday with high school and middle school instrumental and vocal ensembles on Saturday, if
your schedule makes it possible to only attend on the alternate day, please feel free to enter your group.
Events during the rest of the week will include lectures, presentations, videos, performances by University and area
jazz ensembles, combo performances, and other special events to celebrate America's indigenous music. The series
of jazz events is a part of the University's diversity celebration and its observance of African American History
month. We have a jam-packed schedule of events throughout the final days of the celebration that promises to be
well rewarding for you and your group. Even if you do not wish to perform, please consider bringing your group to
observe.
Among this year's guest performing artists for the Festival will be Alan Broadbent (Feb 27)
(https://www.alanbroadbent.com/) and Trumpeter and Trombonist brothers, Derrick and Vincent Gardner (Feb 28)
(http://www.derrickgardnermusic.com/). Please visit our web site at jazz.louisville.edu for more information. Each
participating ensemble will have a 25-30 minute performance clinic with our festival adjudication staff. Ensembles
will receive citations for outstanding, excellent, and good performances. Outstanding performer awards will be
presented to individuals as determined by the judging staff. In addition, each participating group will receive a CD
recording of their performance. Scholarship awards to the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Camp, which is held
annually on the U of L campus, will be made to individual outstanding performers. Other activities on Friday and
Saturday will include clinics by our guest artists, festival adjudicators, Jamey Aebersold, and U of L faculty as well
as concerts featuring the University of Louisville Jazz Ensembles and our featured artists.
The U of L Jazz Festival is also an excellent opportunity for students who are interested in attending the University
to audition for music scholarships and activity awards and to tour the campus. If you have students who are
interested in auditioning, please note that on the enclosed entry form. The University jazz program is a very active
program with a renowned faculty. The U of L jazz faculty includes Mike Tracy, director of jazz studies,
internationally known composer John LaBarbera, trumpeter Ansyn Banks, saxophonist/vocalist Jerry Tolson, bassist
Tyrone Wheeler, bassist/pianist Chris Fitzgerald, guitarist Craig Wagner, saxophonist Samir Kamborav, pianist
Diego Lyra Medeiros, and percussionist Mike Hyman. The U of L jazz program includes big bands, 6 combos,
Brazilian Ensemble, Contemporary Ensemble, Hard Bop Ensemble, and courses in jazz theory, improvisation,
composition and arranging, jazz style and history, music technology, film scoring, music industry, and jazz
pedagogy. We offer both bachelors and masters degrees in jazz studies.
A limited number of performance slots are available. To assure your spot, please fill out the enclosed entry form
and return it with your registration fee ($175 for jazz ensembles; $125 for jazz combos and vocal groups) by January
26, 2015. Registration forms may also be downloaded from our web site, jazz.louisville.edu. Registrations will not
be complete until the registration fee has been received. We look forward to hearing from you soon and seeing you
on February 27th or 28th.
Sincerely,
Jerry Tolson Ansyn Banks Mike Tracy
Festival Director Associate Festival Director Director, Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies Program