Musicians from more than 40 high schools and middle schools in Missouri and Illinois took part in the three-day festival held last week at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
LATEST IN Jim Widner
Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival marks 20 years helping inspire, teach student musicians from schools across the region
Musicians from more than 40 high schools and middle schools in Missouri and Illinois took part in the three-day festival held last week at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival marks 20 years helping inspire, teach student musicians from schools across the region
Musicians from more than 40 high schools and middle schools in Missouri and Illinois took part in the three-day festival held last week at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Communication graduate Hope VanBennekom set to pursue master’s degree in security and disaster management
VanBennekom was drawn to crisis communications in the aftermath of the 2023 shooting at Michigan State University, where her daughter was then a college freshman.
Eye on UMSL: Tribute to a musical great
The musicians of the Jim Widner Big Band raised their instruments for a tribute to their band’s eponymous founding member, Jim Widner, during a memorial Saturday.
Eye on UMSL: Tribute to a musical great
The musicians of the Jim Widner Big Band raised their instruments for a tribute to their band’s eponymous founding member, Jim Widner, during a memorial Saturday.
Eye on UMSL: Tribute to a musical great
The musicians of the Jim Widner Big Band raised their instruments for a tribute to their band’s eponymous founding member, Jim Widner, during a memorial Saturday.
Cheers to 2019: A look back at the year that was in UMSL Daily
These stories, highlighting the efforts and achievements of students, alumni, faculty and staff, reflect UMSL’s impact on the lives of individual students and on the community.
Cheers to 2019: A look back at the year that was in UMSL Daily
These stories, highlighting the efforts and achievements of students, alumni, faculty and staff, reflect UMSL’s impact on the lives of individual students and on the community.
Cheers to 2019: A look back at the year that was in UMSL Daily
These stories, highlighting the efforts and achievements of students, alumni, faculty and staff, reflect UMSL’s impact on the lives of individual students and on the community.
First Jazz Ensemble European tour last act for Jim Widner
The group learned about culture overseas and showcased UMSL’s musical strengths to international audiences while playing in festivals in France and Italy.
First Jazz Ensemble European tour last act for Jim Widner
The group learned about culture overseas and showcased UMSL’s musical strengths to international audiences while playing in festivals in France and Italy.
First Jazz Ensemble European tour last act for Jim Widner
The group learned about culture overseas and showcased UMSL’s musical strengths to international audiences while playing in festivals in France and Italy.
MORE IN Jim Widner
Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival serves as joyous sendoff for Jim Widner
UMSL’s director of jazz studies, who is retiring from teaching this year, founded the festival in 2004 and has served as artistic director ever since.
Alumnus Devin LaRue’s diverse musical talents on display in debut album ‘Finding Peace’
LaRue wrote, arranged, recorded and produced the album, which features him singing and playing guitar, piano, trombone, euphonium, banjo, accordion and djembe drum.
‘College Connections’ program brings St. Louis Symphony musicians, area students together at Touhill
High school and middle school students from Bayless and Ferguson-Florissant school districts attended the performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat.”
UMSL to establish David & Thelma Steward Institute for Jazz Studies after lead gift from the Steward Family Foundation
The institute will serve as the educational foundation for jazz in the St. Louis region.
He’s got rhythm: Jim Widner named Outstanding Jazz Educator for second time
The UMSL Jazz Studies director won in 1990 and now in 2018. The award recognizes an individual’s outstanding contribution to jazz education.
UMSL Jazz Ensemble selected to perform with industry icons in Chicago and Dallas this winter
The 19 student members of the group have just hit what Director of Jazz Studies Jim Widner describes as the trifecta.
Eye on UMSL: Jazz practice
The University Jazz Ensemble rehearses a number as several area high school students – each a Creative Achievement in the Arts award recipient – look on.
On the Chinese stage: Jazz faculty, student combo performs abroad
The faculty and student jazz combo traveled to China this summer to perform at three of UMSL’s exchange universities.
UMSL jazz events will honor trumpet great Clark Terry
His expertise as a musician was legendary, but his readiness to mentor young musicians and students – including those at UMSL – is what sticks out in Jim Widner’s mind.
UMSL jazz musicians make appearance on HEC-TV
Jim Widner is well known as UMSL’s jazz studies director and for his work playing with the Glenn Miller Band and other greats. Learn how he got his start.
Young musicians flock to Big Band Jazz Camp
The camp attracts more than 80 students to the UMSL campus where they learn from trumpeter Dave Scott (pictured), camp founder Jim Widner and other professional jazz musicians.
St. Louis Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Maynard Ferguson
The St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, led by Jim Widner, director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will showcase the music of Maynard Ferguson and feature the artistry of St. Louis’ own Maynard “disciple” Jim Manley. “St. Louis Jazz Orchestra: A Tribute to Maynard Ferguson” will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL.
A look at the life of respected UMSL jazz educator Jim Widner
Jim Widner had a passion for music from early on, but his road to jazz took a more circuitous route.
Eye on UMSL: Pre-interview banter
UMSL Chancellor Tom George jokes with Ruth Ezell of KETC (Channel 9) as Matt Bowman makes last-minute camera adjustments before an interview for an upcoming segment of “Living St. Louis.” The locally produced magazine series will profile Jim Widner, renowned bassist and director of jazz studies at UMSL. Ezell interviewed George, an accomplished jazz pianist, about Widner’s role as a faculty member and the times they’ve shared the stage together.
Eye on UMSL: Improvisation
John Harner leads his charges through a trumpet master class on the second day of the weeklong UMSL Jazz Camp, which is now part of the Jim Widner Big Band Jazz Camp series. The musicians added an extra level of improvisation that day, moving class up to the naturally illuminated J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center lobby due to a power outage that hit North Campus.
Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival celebrates 10 years
Over the last ten years, the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival has grown to be one of the most significant jazz festivals in the Midwest. Produced by the University of Missouri–St. Louis, the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center and Jazz St. Louis, the 2013 festival will run April 18-20 and feature Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band and Anat Cohen and Matt Wilson.
Jazz orchestra to pay tribute to Count Basie
The St. Louis Jazz Orchestra will pay tribute to one of the leading bands of the swing era, the Count Basie Orchestra, with a concert at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “A Night of Count Basie” will begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Blanch M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL.
Jazz Ensemble, vocalist Denise Thimes to share Touhill stage
The acclaimed University of Missouri–St. Louis Jazz Ensemble will share the stage with celebrated St. Louis jazz vocalist Denise Thimes at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Ellington, Basie
When speaking of jazz visionaries and musical trailblazers, Duke Ellington and Count Basie are typically mentioned in the same sentence. And while their music falls clearly into the same category, their styles were drastically different.
Musicians learn from best at UMSL’s Jazz Camp
Student and adult musicians interesting in studying with some of the finest and most talented jazz musicians in the county need look no farther than the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Division of Continuing Education at UMSL will present the Jazz Combo/Improv Camp June 10-15. It includes musical instruction from beginner to advanced, jazz improvisation and combo playing, instrument master classes, ear training and daily concerts.
Grammy winner headlines 2012 Jazz Festival
As a sideman with more than 20 years experience, bassist Christian McBride is no stranger to winning Grammy Awards. But never has he basked in Grammy glory as a bandleader – at least not until the most recent awards were handed out.
St. Louis Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Stan Kenton
Innovative, sometimes controversial and unquestionably influential, Stan Kenton made an inimitable mark on big band jazz. As The New York Times noted, “Mr. Kenton was the last major jazz band leader to emerge from the Big Band Era of 1934-45, and his was one of only a handful of bands that survived when that era came to an end.”
Jazz ensemble, military band to share Touhill stage
The University of Missouri–St. Louis Jazz Ensemble will let loose with a night of great jazz at 7:30 p.m. on March 1 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Ensembles to perform swinging holiday concert
The University of Missouri–St. Louis Department of Music will present its annual Holiday Jazz Concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
This event is free and open to the public. One of the most anticipated concerts of the holiday season, it will feature:
Jazz director earns top honor from hometown
Because of his celebrated career in music and education, Jim Widner now has taken his place on the Lebanon (Mo.)...
Jazz ensemble to perform standards
Start your November off right with a concert by the University of Missouri–St. Louis Jazz Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8...
UMSL mixes strings, swing for Jazz Holiday Concert
The University of Missouri–St. Louis will add some strings to the swing of its fourth annual Jazz Holiday Concert. The...
Jazz musicians hone skills with professional artists
Miles Vandiver unleashed a steady barrage of smacking and tapping on his drums. The rhythmic assault to his kit...
All that jazz at UMSL
Students returning to the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus for the start of the summer session this week might...
UMSL students share stage with jazz greats
The Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival at the University of Missouri–St. Louis annually attracts today’s top jazz artists for a weekend of music.
Music scholar gives overview of Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival
Jim Widner, director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and jazz musician and band leader Gordon Goodwin discussed the 2010 Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival last week on “Cityscape” on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU.
Student named to ‘Rising Stars of Jazz’
When looking to showcase the next generation of jazz stars, “I Love Jazz” turned to the University of Missouri-St. Louis and selected bassist Charles Clements for their first student musician profile.
UMSL Jazz Ensemble to perform at Touhill
The University of Missouri-St. Louis Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 18 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at UMSL’s Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
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