WSU Jazz studies recognized at Hampton Jazz Festival

HamptonJazzBigBand-80PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State University jazz studies program was recognized for excellence at the 2015 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival held recently at the University of Idaho in Moscow.

The Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Greg Yasinitsky, received an “Outstanding Performance” award. The group was selected from among ensembles performing on College Day to perform at the Young Artists Concert that evening.

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The WSU Jazz Big Band performs at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

WSU saxophonist Michado Mijiga received an “Outstanding Soloist” award and was invited to present a special performance at Hamp’s Club that evening.

The program enjoys a national reputation. In January, the Jazz Big Band was selected in a peer-reviewed process to present an invited performance at the international conference of the Jazz Education Network where the band received a standing ovation performing with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin.

In February, the Jazz Big Band presented an invited performance at the All Northwest Conference of the National Association for Music Education.