The 55th Upsilon Phi Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Baldwin Auditorium. This year’s festival will feature Ashlin Parker.
Our festival features a competition component as well as a 25 minute clinic for each performing group.
Ashlin Parker
Ashlin Parker is a renowned jazz trumpeter based out of New Orleans. He leads the group Trumpet Mafia and has performed with jazz ensembles all over the world, such as Australia, Brazil, England, France, and South Africa. In New Orleans, he has performed with groups like the Ellis Marsalis Quintet and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Parker has also performed with Ellis Marsalis, and Aretha Franklin along with many others. He has played on over thirty different albums and has won a grammy with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra on their 2009 debut album, entitled Book One. Ashlin Parker has also been very involved in jazz education around New Orleans and in Louisiana. He has taught at the University of New Orleans and currently teaches at Tulane University. Parker teaches at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music and teaches masterclasses in schools and jazz festivals across the country.
JazzFest 55 will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Baldwin Hall on the Campus of Truman State University.
Since the chapter was founded in 1968, Upsilon Phi has hosted an annual event celebrating jazz at Truman State University. Having been been ranked one of the top collegiate jazz festivals by Down Beat magazine, the Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival has become one of the larger events of its kind, attracting high school and middle school bands throughout the Midwest.
Traditionally held the last weekend in February, “JazzFest” brings in nationally renowned artists every year. It includes a day of performances by high school and middle school jazz combos and big bands with a personalized clinic for each group. Our guest artist also presents a clinic and performs with Truman jazz groups on an evening concert.
The list of past guest artists reads like a who’s who of jazz luminaries. Clark Terry, Nick Brignola, John Fedchock, Danilo Pérez, John Faddis, Peter Erskine, Ethan Iverson, and Slide Hampton are just some of the great musicians who have graced JazzFest with their talent and generosity. For a complete listing of past guest artists, click here.
The men of Upsilon Phi take great pride in all the hard work required successfully put on such a large-scale festival every year. Not only does JazzFest support a rich American art form, it also helps educate aspiring young musicians.
Spots are limited, sign up today!
JazzFest Online Application