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Stephen Kummer, WIU alumnus and Nashville, TN musician
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Michael Stryker, WIU jazz faculty and festival organizer
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WIU Jazz Rhythm Section Festival March 29

March 7, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Fourth Annual Jazz Rhythm Section Festival for high school students and music educators will be held Saturday, March 29 on the WIU-Macomb campus.

The daylong festival will include clinics and workshops presented by Western Illinois jazz studies faculty and special guest artists, The Stephen Kummer Trio from Nashville, TN, who will also headline the closing concert.

The 7:30 p.m. concert in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall will feature an opening by two top high school jazz groups: The Milwaukee (WI) High School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble, directed by Doug Syme; and the Belleville (IL) West High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Tom Birkner. Admission to the concert is $12 at the door; WIU students with a valid ID will be admitted free.

"This is the first year we have invited high school groups to perform in the concert, and I'm pleased that we can feature two exceptional, award-winning ensembles in The Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Belleville West High School," said Michael Stryker, assistant professor of music and festival organizer. "The festival is a good recruiting vehicle for us, and it provides young musicians excellent instruction, small group and individualized work with performing and teaching professionals. It's a great event for everyone involved."

Initially, the festival focused on the rhythm section instruments: piano, bass, drums and guitar. That focus remains, but with the addition of the ensembles, horn faculty have been added to conduct clinics for the non-rhythm newcomers, Stryker said.

"We are excited to see this festival expand. It's a great opportunity to reach and to help train more students in the fundamentals of jazz music," Stryker said.

Western's School of Music jazz faculty conducting clinics and masterclasses include Stryker, piano; Marlene Rosenberg, bass; Kevin Nichols, drums; John Cooper, trumpet; John Vana, saxophone; John Mindeman, trombone; and Matthew Warnock, guitar.

Guest artist Kummer has a close connection with Western. Not only is he a Western Illinois music alumnus (B.A. 1995), but he is also married to alumna Jennifer Dugle Kummer (B.A. music, 1990), the daughter of longtime Western Illinois Director of Bands Jon Dugle, who retired in 2005.

A studio musician in Nashville, Kummer has recorded three feature albums for the Green Hills Music label: "Christmas in the City" (2005), The Stephen Kummer Trio with The Chris McDonald Orchestra; "Jazz for Lovers" (2006); and his latest, "Sinatra" (2008). He has also performed with the Nashville Symphony, toured with Broadway musicals and was the music director for Celebrity Cruise Lines. Kummer has also returned to Macomb as a guest artist for the annual Al Sears Jazz Festival.

For more information about Western's Jazz Rhythm Section Festival, visit www.wiu.edu/bands/events/jazz or contact Stryker by phone, 309/298-1444, or e-mail MS-Stryker@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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