This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.

Juilliard School of Music Returning to Sanpete County

Last year, some members of the prestigious music school’s jazz faculty came to Snow College to hold a special rhythm workshop. The event was so successful, they decided to return for a second workshop, and enrollment is already double what it was last year.

The workshop is a collaborative effort between the Juilliard School and the Horne School of Music at Snow College. In addition to the workshop, public concerts will be presented each evening at 8 p.m.

“We are very excited to be able to work with The Juilliard School to bring this event to Utah,” says Vance Larsen, Snow College Dean of Fine Arts.

Students who took part in the workshop last year called it a “life-changing event.” Participants have the opportunity to dramatically improve their talent by intensely focusing on the key issues of the jazz rhythm section. The workshop also prepare students for a future in music by teaching them essential skills and giving them the opportunity to meet people that have already succeeded in the music business. People interested in participating in the workshop must submit a recording to be considered for acceptance.

“This event, and the Juilliard faculty’s visits to our campus during the academic year, provides Snow College and area students with a world-class educational opportunity,” Larsen says. “Area residents should take advantage of this opportunity to attend these concerts.”

All concerts are being held in the Jorgensen Concert Hall, a 700-seat venue located in the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts at Snow College, and begin at 8 p.m.

The concert schedule is:

• Thursday, Aug. 3

  Snow College Faculty Jazz Quintet and The Juilliard Jazz Trio

  This is the premier concert of the Snow College Faculty Jazz Quintet, which features faculty members Scott Wilson, Trumpet/EVI; Greg Floor, Saxophone; Rich Dixon, Guitar; Jay Lawrence, Drums; Denson Angulo, Bass. The group is led by Scott Wilson, Snow College’s director of jazz studies and founder of the online Jazz Education Store, and Angulo and Floor are new to the Snow College jazz faculty.

  The Juilliard Jazz Trio includes Carl Allen, Drums; Ben Wolfe, Bass; Ted Rosenthal, Piano). Members of the Juilliard Jazz Trio have performed with artists such as Freddy Hubbard, James Moody, Woody Shaw and Art Farmer.

  Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 for children under age 12, $32 for families.

• Friday, Aug. 4 and Saturday, Aug. 5

  Student Concert. This concert features the students involved in the workshop, including the Juilliard Student Jazz Trio. Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 for children under age 12, and $25 for families.

For more information, contact the Snow College Fine Arts department at (435) 283-7465. Information is also available online at: www.snow.edu/~music/jazzworkshop 

# # #

Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502