U of I to present 58th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival April 15-18
April 09, 2025
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho’s 58th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, taking place Tuesday through Friday, April 15-18, will welcome 2,200 students and educators to Moscow for an unforgettable celebration of jazz.
While students will participate in three days of adjudicated performances, festivalgoers can also explore a variety of free public workshops, from disco, poetry and anime to tap dancing, Pilates and swing. In addition to their evening performances, headliners — including Arun Ramamurthy, Take 6, Jeff Hamilton Trio, Christine Jensen, Jamie Baum and the Lionel Hampton Big Band — will host Meet the Artist sessions to connect with students in a more personal setting.
"The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is a one-of-a-kind educational jazz festival that gives students from elementary through college the opportunity to perform for professional musicians and receive feedback in an interactive clinic,” said Vanessa Sielert, professor of music at the Lionel Hampton School of Music and education advisor for the festival. “In the evening, we welcome world-class artists to perform in our beautiful ICCU Arena for students, completing this immersive experience.”
Evening concert schedule:
Hamp’s Gala: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, Administration Building Auditorium
- The traditional evening kick-off concert, featuring LHSOM student ensembles.
World Music Celebration: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, ICCU Arena
- Christine Jensen, saxophonist and composer
- Arun Ramamurthy, violinist
- UI Jazz Band I, under the direction of Vern Sielert
- UI Jazz Choir I, under the direction of Dan Bukvich
- World Beat Ensemble, under the direction of Navin Chettri
Take 6 and Jamie Baum: 7 p.m., Thursday, April 17, ICCU Arena
- Take 6, a cappella group
- Jamie Baum, flutist and composer
- UI Chamber Jazz Choir, under the direction of Dan Bukvich
- UI Jazz Band I, under the direction of Vern Sielert
- Palouse Jazz Project
- Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors
Jeff Hamilton Trio: 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, ICCU Arena
- Jeff Hamilton Trio
- Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis
- Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors
Tickets to April 15’s Hamp’s Gala are free. All other ticket events range from $50-$70 and are available from the Bruce M. Pitman Center Box Office, online at uitickets.com or at the door while supplies last (credit card only). University of Idaho students receive a 50% discount on concert tickets on a first-come, first-served basis (limited availability). A clear bag policy is in effect for all events in the ICCU Arena.
Visit uidaho.edu/jazzfest to learn more about the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
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Media Contact:
Alisa Volz
Communication Specialist
Department of Theatre Arts & Lionel Hampton School of Music
208-885-6465
avolz@uidaho.edu
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho, home of the Vandals, is Idaho’s land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.