Weatherford, OK – The 56th annual SWOSU Jazz Festival returns to Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford Feb. 19–20. The festival brings two full days of live jazz to campus, including ticketed concerts, educational clinics, and the SWOSU Big Band Festival. Several events are free and open to the public, giving students, musicians, and community members a chance to enjoy jazz up close.
Highlights include:
Thursday, Feb. 19 – Free public concert at 7 p.m. in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center Auditorium featuring trombonist Andy Martin and the Stockton Helbing Trio in an evening of small-group jazz. A kickback follows at 9 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Lobby Lounge with snacks provided by the SWOSU Music Department.
Friday, Feb. 20 – SWOSU Big Band Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring middle school, high school, junior college, and university bands from across the region. Each ensemble receives written feedback and ratings from judges, many of whom are SWOSU alumni. Free jazz clinics with Andy Martin take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Hilltop Theatre.
Friday concerts – SWOSU Jazz Orchestra performs at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium, joined by Andy Martin and the Stockton Helbing Trio. A Jazz Sip and Slide Happy Hour happens at 5:30 p.m. at the Timothy D. Day Business Enterprise Center.
Tickets for Friday’s events are available online at share.swosu.edu/swosujazzfest26. Adult tickets are $25, seniors $15, and students $10. Additional tickets are available for the Jazz Sip and Slide Happy Hour.
The SWOSU Jazz Festival is supported by the SWOSU Foundation. Donations help provide participating school bands with masterclasses and support guest artists and festival organizers. Those interested in supporting SWOSU Jazz can visit www.swosufoundation.com/give/give-to-swosu-jazz/.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Tirk at Richard.tirk@swosu.edu or visit www.swosujazzfest.com.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
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