WSU, SMU present Hop-a-Concert jazz performances today

WSU (top) and SMU (bottom) jazz students will perform April 25.

Winona State and Saint Mary's jazz ensembles will present a Hop-a-Concert – five jazz performances featuring Winona’s talented college students — at both schools (and the Acoustic Café) on the same day, Friday, April 25.

This event is the first-ever collaboration between students of the two jazz programs. John Paulson and Rich MacDonald, directors of jazz studies at SMU and WSU, decided to plan this evening of jazz after collaborating on live monthly jazz jam sessions at the Acoustic Café in Winona.

• From 6 to 7 p.m., two SMU Workshop Jazz Combos, directed by Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven, will perform a casual pre-concert set in the SMU Performance Center lobby.

• From 7 to 7:45 p.m., the SMU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Paulson, performs in Page Theatre, also in the SMU Performance Center.

• From 7:45 to 8:30 p.m., WSU Jazz Combos perform, directed by Richard Hammergren, perform in the WSU Performing Arts Center lobby.

• From 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. the WSU Jazz Ensemble, directed by MacDonald, performs on WSU’s PAC mainstage.

• And from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. SMU and WSU select Jazz Combos close the jam at the Acoustic Café.

This event brings the students together in a unique production, which will feature both large jazz ensembles and small group combos.

Admission to both events is $10 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at either WSU or SMU. At SMU, call Ext. 1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org. Individual concert tickets may also be purchased at the two venues.