A high profile jazz group–the Branford Marsalis Quartet–will be in town Tuesday, Oct. 15, with Marsalis holding an educational masterclass for University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students before an evening concert at The Howard.
Students for Music (SFM), a UW Oshkosh student organization, is co-sponsoring the event with The Howard.
“To have someone of the major international caliber of Branford Marsalis and his jazz quartet is simply something that rarely, if ever, happens on our campus,” said Marty Robinson, professor of trumpet and jazz at UWO. “He is considered one of the most versatile and influential jazz saxophonists of his generation, and we are so lucky to have such a major artist bring his jazz quartet to Oshkosh and to work side-by-side with our students.”
Marsalis is a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee who performs concertos with symphony orchestras. The Branford Marsalis Quartet has continued for more than three decades, performing a range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics.
The quartet is composed of Marsalis, saxophones; Joey Calderazzo, piano; Eric Revis, bass; and Justin Faulkner, drums.
The Oct. 15 events mark the first partnership between SFM and The Howard. The collaboration affords UWO students the rare opportunities to work with the jazz legend in a masterclass and attend his concert at a reduced concert ticket price of $5.
“The Howard is thrilled to announce its partnership with UWO Students for Music for an event showcasing the music of Branford Marsalis,” said Carol Velasco, director of The Howard. “This event will be one to remember.”
The public masterclass at the UW Oshkosh Music Hall, 1001 Elmwood Ave., is a free event that takes place from 3 to 4 p.m.
A VIP dinner with cuisine prepared by executive chefs Ben and Amanda Raupp for those purchasing dinner plus show tickets takes place at 5:30 p.m. at The Howard, 405 Washington Ave. Dinner/show tickets are $100 and give premium access to Grand Ballroom seating in the Great Hall. A cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner service beginning at 6 p.m.
General admission doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m.
“It is an amazing opportunity for the SFM students to experience the process of booking and event planning for such high-caliber artists” said Sharon Tenhundfeld, faculty adviser of Students for Music at UWO. “This hands-on experience is invaluable and gives me great joy to watch our students buzz with excitement and pride knowing they are the drivers for this event and the reason Marsalis is coming to town. Connecting amazing musicians with our community is what it is all about.”
The Students of Music organization presents a Chamber Arts Concert Series, featuring a wide variety of world class musicians and strives to advocate and support the love of music on the UWO campus and the Oshkosh community.
Learn more: