By Hutchinson Community College
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Fine Arts department, with support from the Kansas Creative Arts Commission, will kick off its spring schedule with the annual Bryce Luty Jazz Festival concert on Friday, February 2 at 7:00 pm in the Stringer Fine Arts Center.
Now in its 49th year, the festival was named for long-time HutchCC jazz instructor Bryce Luty following his passing in 2014. The concert will include performances by the HutchCC Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of Greg Weis, and the Bryce Luty Jazz Festival All Star Band.
In addition, the performance will feature guest artist Jeff Coffin. Coffin is a globally celebrated saxophonist, composer and educator. He is a member of the legendary rock group, Dave Matthews Band. Coffin is a three-time Grammy Award winner as a member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, with whom he performed from 1997 until 2010.
The two-day Festival begins Thursday and is geared for high school and middle school students, with close to 500 students from a record 28 bands expected to attend. Each participating band will receive a clinic from guest artist Jeff Coffin or one of two guest clinicians – Shawn Williams, Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado, or David Mesquitic, lecturer in jazz piano at the University of Wyoming.
Also on Thursday, Jeff Coffin will be offering a free masterclass that is open to the public. It will begin at 12 noon in the BJ Warner Recital Hall of Stringer Fine Arts Center.
Tickets for the concert are just $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for senior citizens, $5.00 for high school students and children, with Hutchinson Community College students/faculty/staff admitted free with a valid college ID. Tickets are available by calling the Fine Arts ticket office at 620-665-3503. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended.
For more information on the Fine Arts Department at Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu/finearts.
