For over 40 years, TCU has hosted one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the state of Texas. The TCU Jazz Festival has attracted over 20,000 middle and high school students since its beginning in 1978. The goal of the festival is to celebrate jazz music and connect students with famous guest artists and TCU’s prestigious jazz faculty.

Schools compete and showcase their works in four categories: middle school, 4A, 5A and 6A high schools. The festival will be held in two buildings to compensate for the growing number of schools participating: Ed Landreth Hall and PepsiCo Recital Hall.

The festival has also hosted schools from Hawaii, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Iowa.

Performances from TCU’s Jazz Band at the festival will feature renowned artist Wycliffe Gordon who will perform alongside the TCU students.

Wycliffe Gordon, also known as “Pinecone,” is one of the world’s most prominent jazz trombonists and a founding member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Gordon has won “Trombonist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalist Association 15 times.

Gordon has composed numerous albums, his most famous being “Jazz A La Carte.” “Jazz A La Carte” was published as one of the “Top Five Moments in Jazz” by the Wall Street Journal. Additionally, NPR’s theme for the radio show, “All Things Considered,” is arranged and performed by Gordon.

Gordon also founded Blue Back Records, aiming to give himself full artistic liberty and control over his craft.

In addition to being a performer, Gordon is a professor and educator, teaching at Michigan State University, Juilliard School of Music and Manhattan School of Music. Gordon holds masterclasses and lectures for universities and elementary schools alike. He is currently the director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University.

This year’s TCU Jazz Festival will take place the weekend of March 1.