The Augustana University Northlanders Jazz Band, along with middle and high school bands from three states, will perform during the 49th Annual Jazz on the Upper Great Plains Festival at Augustana's Hamre Recital Hall in the Fryxell Humanities Center.
- Monday, March 4 & Tuesday, March 5
This year, the Jazz on the Upper Great Plains Festival guest artist is Matthew Whitaker, an internationally-touring pianist, as well as a Hammond B3, Yamaha and Nord performing artist. As the youngest artist to be endorsed by both Hammond and Yamaha, Whitaker has performed at world-renowned venues in the U.S., and in 13 different countries internationally, including Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and Telluride Jazz Festival.
At just 10 years old, Whitaker was invited to perform at Stevie Wonder’s induction into the Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame. Since then, he has been on national and international radio and television, which includes the Today Show documentary series "Boys Changing the World," Harry Connick Jr. Show, an appearance on the syndicated TV talk show Ellen and a segment on the most-watched news magazine on television 60 Minutes. In 2019 and 2020, he was the winner of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Albert Young Jazz Composers Award and has been featured on Apple’s “The Greatest" TV commercial. In addition, he has written numerous albums and produced film scores.
- Professor of Jazz Studies Dr. Brian Hanegan | brian.hanegan@augie.edu | 605.274.5458