DANBURY, Connecticut — Western Connecticut State University will host its 28th Annual Jazz Fest from May 1 – 4, 2025, at the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall in the university’s Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC), 43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury. All events are open to the public and advance tickets are available at www.wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com/.
The 2025 WCSU Jazz Fest kicks off with Jazz Fest Thursday on Thursday, May 1, featuring the Jazz Combos, Vocal Jazz and Jazz Ensemble from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside campus. Advance ticket purchases made online are $10 plus fees; tickets purchased at the door are $15. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-jazz-fest-featuring-wcsu-jazz-groups-tickets-1230497373769.
Special guest Jeremy Pelt on trumpet will perform with the WCSU Jazz Orchestra beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Tickets are $15 plus fees online, $20 at the door. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-jazz-fest-featuring-wcsu-jazz-orchestra-and-guest-tba-tickets-1264830575299.
On Saturday, May 3, WCSU Jazz Faculty, featuring Andrew Beals, saxophone; Jamie Begian, guitar; Danton Boller, bass; Zaccai Curtis, piano; Jimmy Greene, saxophone; Will Gorman, voice; Lee Metcalf, guitar; Haneef Nelson, trumpet; Jesse Parker, drums; Deborah Weisz, trombone; and Kenny Wessel, guitar; will perform at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus fees online and $15 at the door. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-jazz-fest-featuring-wcsu-jazz-faculty-tickets-1264877375279.
Finally, on Sunday, May 4, the last day of the Jazz Fest, performances will feature High School Honors Jazz Ensembles; an Alumni Combo and the Alumni Jazz Educator of the year at 1:30 p.m. The combo lineup will include Jamie Begian, guitar; Chris DeAngelis, bass; Nathan Edwards, saxophone; Jimmy Greene, saxophone; Darren Litzie, piano; and Molly Sayles, drums. Tickets are $10 plus fees online and $15 at the door. Get tickets at /www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-jazz-fest-feat-high-school-honors-jazz-ensembles-alumni-combo-tickets-1268665124539.
Western Connecticut State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. WCSU’s Department of Music is part of the School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts, and offers a range of the highest quality academic, artistic, pre-professional and professional programming within a liberal arts environment. Additionally, it supports and fosters an environment conducive to the professional and artistic growth of faculty and students, and ensures students’ success by meeting their needs in advising, mentoring and professional development. The university offers several bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, performance and education. Go to www.wcsu.edu/music/degrees for more information.
The program is housed in the Visual and Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the art, all-in-one facility that hosts a multitude of dynamic spaces to accommodate the needs of artists across all disciplines. The versatile facilities include the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall, MainStage Theatre, the Art Gallery, Recording Studio, Music Technology Lab, Electronic Music Workshop, Studio Theatre, Scene Shop, Dressing Rooms and Sculpture, Photography, Graphic Design and Art Studios including the M.F.A. Studios. For a list of public events, go to www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events/.
For more information, call the VPAC Box Office at (203) 837-8732 or contact Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.