For more than 40 years at the University of Idaho, the
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has brought jazz masters together with elementary, junior high, high school and college students to share and celebrate a truly American art form of music. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has grown from a one-day event to an amazing four-day experience.
In 2007, the
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival was awarded a National Medal of Arts – the nation's most prestigious arts award. This recognition affirmed the vision shared by Lionel Hampton and the University of Idaho about the power of jazz and education to bridge cultures, inspire creativity, and develop the musical leadership abilities of the next generation of jazz leaders.