Huston-Tillotson University’s Jazz Collective to Perform at 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival
Thursday May, 11 2023
Austin, TX – May 11, 2023 – Huston-Tillotson University’s Jazz Collective is proud to announce their participation in the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival. HT’s Jazz Collective will be part of Weekend Two at ACL and will perform on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The Group recently won 1st Place in the Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition, held in Nashville, Tennessee.
This is the second time HT’s Jazz Collective has been invited to perform at Austin’s favorite fall music festival. Dr. William Oliver, Director of University Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education shared, “A sizable segment of the East Austin music scene was built by students and alumni who once walked the halls of Huston-Tillotson University – music pioneers such as Damita Jo DeBlanc, Dr. James Polk, Louie Carrington Jr., and current day musicians such as The Peterson Brothers. Accepting the invitation to perform at this year’s ACL is our modern-day version of paying homage and contributing to Austin’s vibrant and culturally rich music scene in the same vein as earlier music pioneers from Huston-Tillotson University once did.”
Dr. Jeremy George, Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Education added, “I was a professional touring musician for over 15 years and a great deal of my traveling experience on the professional level did not occur until after I completed my undergraduate studies. Thus, I am so proud of the phenomenal music education and experiences we provide our students at Huston-Tillotson University! Receiving the opportunity to perform at ACL, ensures our students garner real world experience in addition to performing on the same world stage as national and international artists.”
HT’s Jazz Collective is an urban contemporary jazz ensemble within the music program at Huston-Tillotson University, Austin’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Their musical and vocal talents combine traditional jazz elements with contemporary influences, leaving audiences delighted with their smooth sounds. The group, which is composed largely of current music majors, performs a wide variety of music, including works from the classical choral repertoire, spirituals, gospel, and jazz.
Dr. Melva K. Wallace, the Seventh President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, expressed her excitement for the Jazz Collective’s performance, saying, “The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective has an incredible talent that deserves to be experienced by larger audiences. We are thrilled to be part of the Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup this year and we’ll be there to celebrate in the audience on October 14th.”
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual event that draws music lovers from around the world. The 2023 festival lineup was announced Tuesday. Don’t miss your chance to see the Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective and other fantastic local musicians at this year’s festival. Tickets are on sale now.
About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of learning in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. HT is an independent, church-related, historically Black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus 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.
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