Jim Widner, director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, joined forces over the weekend with his counterparts at the University of Missouri–Columbia and University of Missouri–Kansas City: Arthur White and Bobby Watson, respectively.

The resulting collaboration was a scholarship benefit concert Friday at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts in Columbia, Mo. Proceeds were divided evenly among the three universities. The concert was part of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series and included performances by the Jim Widner Big Band with White and Watson, as well as a student jazz performer representing each program. Charles Clements, a bassist and sophomore in music, represented UMSL.

Despite the concert featuring Grammy-nominated musicians and nationally renowned music educators, Widner called the student performances the showcase of the event. He said the audience got to see “first hand the product of their support and the future of jazz.”