NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University’s jazz ensembles, under the direction of Dr. William Richardson, are gearing up for a performance at The Pub in Maryville on April 8. The concert will showcase the Studio Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble starting at 7 p.m.

“We are excited to share some amazing music with the public,” stated Dr. William Richardson, the professor of music at Northwest. “Both jazz groups have spent an extraordinary amount of quality time preparing music from many diverse genres, and I am proud of our students for working so diligently this semester. We promise that the audience will have a great time.”

The concert, which is free to attend and open to adults 21 and over, will feature a variety of pieces including “I Ain’t Gonna Ask No More” by composer Toshiko Akiyoshi, with Northwest Assistant Professor of Music Dr. William Sutton on tuba. The program will also highlight student soloists within each ensemble.

The jazz ensembles at Northwest regularly perform on campus and tour states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. The Jazz Ensemble has received recognition, including being named the “Outstanding University Jazz Ensemble” at the University of Kansas Jazz Festival in 2020 and earning an invitation to perform at the 2024 Glenn Miller Festival in Clarinda, Iowa.

The upcoming concert at The Pub is part of the ensembles’ commitment to sharing their musical talents with the community. For more information on musical ensembles at Northwest, visit the university's website.