36th Annual Jazz Festival
March 18-21, 2026
ALL CONCERTS TAKE PLACE IN MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATER
All concerts free and open to the public.
Join all of the school’s ensembles, faculty and guests artists in a celebration of improvisatory music.
Sponsored by our friends at WRTI 90.1
Student Showcase
March 18th, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Join us for featured concert of a student ensemble. Chosen through a rigorous audition process, our Thursday afternoon concert will feature a student-led, student-conceived, and all-student performing ensemble.
WCU Faculty Jazz Concert
MARCH 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Join the Faculty of the Wells School of Music for an evening of standards and original music!
Diane Monroe
March 19th, 2026 | 12 PM
The culmination of the series And now: a word from our friends. Join violinist Diane Monroe for an intimate concert.
State of Affairs – Central: The Harrisburg Jazz Collective
March 19th, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Join the finest musicians of Central Pennsylvania and surrounding areas with the Harrisburg Jazz Collective. Pianist Steve Rudolph and trumpeter Bill Perbetsky co-lead this decade-old ensemble.
Philadelphia’s Finest meet the Criterions: Joanna Pascale & John Swana
March 20th, 2026 | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
The Criterions Jazz Ensemble plays the centerpiece concert of the 36th annual festival with acclaimed vocalist, Joanna Pascale and WCU’s very own John Swana. Joanna Pascale is a singer of sophisticated taste, profound expressiveness and raw emotion. She is also a gifted educator who is a member of the vocal faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. World-renowned trumpeter and EVI artist, John Swana will join her in arrangements by Philadelphia’s Larry McKenna and others.
High School Jazz Festival
March 21st, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
In partnership with Cavalcade of Bands, join a host of high school big bands as they come to campus and perform for one another, receive clinics and participate in masterclasses.