JAZZFEST features concert, competition

OTTUMWA ? The 21st Annual Indian Hills Community College JAZZFEST will feature an opening concert Friday at St. John Auditorium on the college?s Ottumwa campus.

Thirteen Iowa high school jazz bands will compete for ensemble and solo awards on Saturday at St. John Auditorium. The opening concert and the full day of competition are free and open to the public.

The opening concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday will include a performance by the Indian Hills Jazz Band, under the direction of David Sharp. Selections by an electrifying group of guest artists will follow. Among the performers will be trumpeter Mike Parkinson from the University of Ohio, saxophonist Bob Long from Missouri Western University and two faculty members from the University of Northern Iowa: pianist Bob Washut and bassist Jon Schwabe.

The high school competition will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Participating high schools will include: Albia, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Fort Madison, Knoxville, Montezuma, Moravia, Mount Pleasant, Oskaloosa, Prairie City-Monroe, Van Meter and Washington.

For information on JAZZFEST 2013, contact Sharp at 800-726-2585, ext. 1836, or 641-683-1836.