The 52^nd annual Lakeland Jazz Festival will be in full swing March 8-10, 2024, with a series of concerts fit for the whole family to enjoy. The performances will be held in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center in the D-Building of Lakeland’s campus, located at 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, Ohio, 44094.

The festival will kick off Friday, March 8, with its “Serving the Schools” initiative, where middle school and high school bands perform on campus for adjudication by celebrated educators in the jazz community. This year’s renowned adjudicators hail from The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice since 1985.

Dr. Matthew Saunders, Lakeland’s music department chair and director of the Lakeland Civic Orchestra, expressed that “Serving the Schools” is a unique opportunity, “allowing young musicians to be coached and inspired by some of the very best in Northeast Ohio’s vibrant arts and music scene.”

Following adjudication, this year’s lineup includes:

• Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m. – The 3D Jazz Trio
• Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m. – The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and Lakeland Jazz Impact featuring Ava Preston

The 3D Jazz Trio will headline 2024’s festival with an electrifying performance set for Saturday, March 9. Sherrie Maricle, Amy Shook and Jackie Warren are the three “divas” behind the powerhouse trio, self-described as “fiercely swinging on purpose, with purpose.” They have performed at prestigious venues across the country, including The Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club and Mezzrow in New York City and The Blues Alley in Washington D.C. The band’s latest recording,“9 to 5,”was released in December 2022.

The weekend’s festivities will conclude Sunday, March 10, with a concert from the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Lakeland Jazz Impact, featuring accomplished local vocalist and songwriter Ava Preston. An 11-time national Downbeat Student Music Award winner for Vocal Jazz and Blues/Pop/Rock and Silver Award Winner for Jazz Voice, Preston has graced the stage at a number of local venues including The Bop Stop, BluJazz+, Beachland Ballroom, Tri-C JazzFest and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

FESTIVAL TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased online at lakelandcc.edu/jazzfestival or at the box office upon arrival.

Saturday: $25 general admission and $15 students.

Sunday: $10 general admission and $7 students.

Guests can also purchase an all-access pass for admission into both concerts, at $30 general admission and $20 students.

Online purchasers should bring their order confirmation to show at the door. The Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center is located on the first floor of the D-Building on the campus of Lakeland Community College, located at the I-90/State Route 306 exit. Free parking is available.

ABOUT THE LAKELAND JAZZ FESTIVAL

TheLakeland Jazz Festivalwas founded by retired professor and music department chair Charles M. Frank. The festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magic of jazz education in the younger generation of musicians. Over 30,000 middle and high school musicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquely American art form, jazz.

Festival coordinators are Ed Michaels, email emichaels@lakelandcc.edu and Dr. Stephen Stanziano, email sstanziano@lakelandcc.edu.

By: Charles Hegedus, Mrktg and Commun Specialist