Huston-Tillotson Jazz Collective to Perform with Top HBCU Ensembles at Prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center Residency
Tuesday Apr, 08 2025
Austin, TX (April 8, 2025) — The Huston-Tillotson University (HT) Jazz Collective has been selected to perform as one of the top Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) participating in the annual Jazz at Lincoln Center and Virginia Arts Festival HBCU Jazz Residency slated for Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Virginia.
The residency, led by internationally acclaimed trumpeter and bandleader Wynton Marsalis, will bring together select student jazz ensembles from HBCUs for three days of immersive learning and mentorship. Over the course of the residency, participating bands will receive master classes, section workshops, jam sessions, and direct coaching from members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO).
“This opportunity places our students on a national stage, allowing them to learn from and perform alongside some of the most respected jazz musicians in the world,” said Dr. William Oliver, chair of the HT Department of Humanities and Fine Arts. “It’s more than a performance—it’s a celebration of excellence, tradition, and the future of jazz through the lens of HBCU talent.”
At the conclusion of the intensive three-day sessions, a culminating concert will be held, during which the HT Collective will be featured in the first half of the concert, followed by a full performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, a nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and recipient of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Medal of the Arts.
“Being selected to perform in this showcase is both a tremendous honor and a reflection of the hard work, creativity, and spirit our students bring to their craft,” said Dr. Jeremy George, Director of the Collective. “This is more than music—this is legacy in motion, and certainly, an unforgettable experience for our students.”
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About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. Huston-Tillotson University is an independent, church-related, historically Black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
