The 14th annual Thornapple Arts Council’s Jazz Festival, April 27-28-29, features a dozen venues where residents and visitors can enjoy jazz by hundreds of students and professional performers.
Photo: The Byron Center Steel Drum Band performs at an earlier Jazz Festival.
Headliners this year include the Thornapple Jazz Orchestra, WSG John Hill, Edye Evans-Hyde and the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra.
Started in 2003, the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival 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.
The jazz artists and those accompanying them will be met by Hastings Reserve Police Officers and Ambassadors who will welcome them and offer any assistance they can.
The non-competitive festival puts education and jazz promotion and appreciation at its core. The festival draws more than 10,000 people and provides a weekend of free jazz performance for the public and the chance for student groups to come in from around the state to work with professional musicians.
For a complete schedule of performers and venues, visit: thornapplearts.org/jazzfestival/
