The Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music will present the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Fest on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre located on the campus of Lamar University. Admission is free and open to the public.
Featured artists and clinicians during the event include Kris Berg and the Metroplexity Band, with special guest Eric Marienthal.
“This event recognizes the career of President Emeritus Jimmy Simmons and his music career. Simmons is a lifelong jazz performer and through the generous assistance of the Williams family, an endowment was provided to the department to help fund this annual jazz festival,” said Richard Condit, professor of saxophone and director of the Jazz Band.
High school bands will perform throughout the day and the event will culminate with a concert from Kris Berg and the Metroplexity Big Band, whose first CD appeared in the Top 20 on radio and was nominated in four Grammy categories including Best Large Ensemble Performance. The band performs live several times a year at festivals and conventions throughout the Western and Central parts of the United States. The band has been a featured group at multiple Jazz Education Network conferences.
Eight-time Grammy nominated and two-time Grammy Award Winning Saxophonist, Eric Marienthal, will also perform during the evening’s festivities.
For more information about the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Festival or the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music, please visit lamar.edu/music.