LVC Students and Professors Participate in New Orleans Jazz Festival

Dr. Jeffrey Lovell, Associate Professor of Music, and Dr. Justin Morell, Professor of Music, co-directors of The Valley Jazz Orchestra, traveled with six Valley students to participate and attend the JENerations Jazz Festival in New Orleans, La., the nation’s jazz birthplace, in January. The immersive experience, part of the annual Jazz Education Network Conference, was made possible through the Strohman Fund for Jazz Studies, established by Rich Wengert, a community friend, and an LVC grant.

The students, representing the College’s Music Production, Music, and Music Education programs, were immersed in jazz through attending clinics, presentations, and concerts. On the conference’s concluding day, Taiylor Adams ’26, Owen Haas ’26, John Mattiko ’26, Liesl Miller ’27, Rhy Sherman ’26, and Aidan Younkin ’27, accompanied by Professor Morell on drums, performed a short set of music before a panel of adjudicators, who provided meaningful feedback. Morell, LVC’s Composer-in-Residence, also gave a presentation on composition to a packed room.

“New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz and still central to its culture,” said Morell. “The conference was a rare chance for our students to be immersed in that rich history and to interact with some extraordinary jazz musicians.”

Haas, who played trumpet at the conference, appreciated this opportunity on several levels.

“My favorite aspect was performing before the judges, including their feedback. Based on past experiences, this can be stressful, but seeing our judges smile and congratulate us took a weight off my shoulders. Funding from the Strohman Fund was incredibly helpful, especially since my sister is also in college. Being able to go on the trip without putting financial stress on my parents was amazing. I am infinitely grateful to Mr. Wengert.”

Preparation for their festival performance began at the start of the fall semester and included performances for local high schools a week before the spring semester began. Then, they were off to New Orleans.