The Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival started in 2003 and has grown to be the largest jazz festival of its kind matching more student groups and performers to professional jazz musicians through its clinician program than any other festival in the United States, according to the Thornapple Arts Council website.

This year, the Jazz Festival will have the honor of providing the first  musical performance at the Grand Opening of the Thornapple Plaza on April 28 at 1 p.m.

The 700-seat venue is the latest entertainment attraction in the city of Hastings.

The festival brings over 10,000 people to Hastings and provides a weekend of free jazz performance to the public from many venues with performances by  more than 130 school and professional jazz bands and ensembles from all over the state.

It’s a great chance for student groups to work with professional musicians in a non-competitive festival that puts education and jazz promotion and appreciation at its core.

Headlining performances are available for a small fee allowing residents of rural Barry County and the surrounding area the opportunity to enjoy acts like the internationally known Four Freshmen.

This year’s headliners include the Liberty Call Navy Band, Steelheads with Andy Narell, the Thornapple Jazz Band with Brandon Cooper, WMU Songbird and the River City Jazz Ensemble. Headliners perform at Central Auditorium, Thornapple Plaza and First Presbyterian Church.

For a complete schedule for the three day event, visit the TAC website thornapplearts.org/jazzfestival.