Swing, Soul, and a Whole Lot of Groove

University of Mary’s 53rd Annual Jazz Festival Brings World-Class Artists and a Spirit of Connection to Downtown Bismarck

BISMARCK, N.D. — For more than five decades, winter in Bismarck has meant one thing for music lovers: the unmistakable sound of swing, soul, and improvisation — a tradition that once again fills the Belle Mehus Auditorium this year. That tradition continues Saturday, Jan. 31, as the University of Mary hosts its 53rd Annual Jazz Festival, culminating in a toe-tapping public concert at 7 p.m. in the historic downtown venue.

General admission tickets are $15 and available online at www.umary.edu/jazz, at the door, or in person at Eckroth Music (cash or check only). University of Mary students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their MCard.

A Tradition That Swings On

Founded in 1974, the University of Mary Jazz Festival has grown into one of the region’s longest-running and most beloved musical traditions, drawing jazz fans, educators, and student musicians from across North Dakota and beyond.

“The University of Mary Jazz Festival is a cultural institution in the Bismarck-Mandan area,” said Dr. Brian Lydeen, festival director and University of Mary alumnus. “It has been running for 53 years, and the community looks forward to it every year. It’s the one time of year we can hear professional jazz guest artists in a beautiful historic venue like the Belle Mehus Auditorium. It’s a special event with a magical energy that we manage to recreate year after year.”

World-Class Guest Artists Take the Stage

This year’s festival features an all-star lineup of internationally respected guest artists whose résumés span Broadway pits, national television, legendary jazz orchestras, film soundtracks, and decades of jazz education. Trumpeter Elaine Burt, trombonist Rich Woolworth, saxophonist Pete Whitman, and pianist Dave Barduhn bring deep roots in both performance and pedagogy, while vocalists Gregory Fletcher and Jamond McCoy of the renowned vocal group M*Pact add a dynamic vocal dimension to the festival.

The concert will feature performances by the University of Mary Jazz Combo, Vocal Jazz, and Jazz Ensemble, with guest artists appearing both as featured soloists and collaborators. The evening also includes a special small-group combo performance showcasing all of the guest clinicians together on stage.

“One of my favorite parts of the festival is the combination of music we get between all of the guest artists and the music they send us before they arrive,” Lydeen said. “Many times, it gets us performing things that we might not have otherwise, and really stretches the students to explore different things.”

From Swing to Fusion — and Everything in Between

Audiences can expect an eclectic mix of jazz styles, from swinging big band and hard bop to Latin jazz, bossa nova, vocal jazz, and contemporary fusion. Among the highlights are two works by Dave Barduhn, including his original composition “Safety Net Blues” and his arrangement of the jazz standard “My Romance,” both featuring Barduhn’s seasoned skills as a composer and pianist.

“It’s good to challenge them and get them out of their comfort zone. That usually ends up being the most rewarding part of the festival for them,” added Lydeen.

Education at the Heart of the Festival

While the public concert brings the sound, the heart of the festival beats in its educational mission. During the festival, between 40 and 50 middle school and high school jazz ensembles from across the region — including all five Bismarck-Mandan high schools, along with groups from Hazen, Jamestown, West Fargo, and Brookings, South Dakota — will perform for adjudication.

What sets the University of Mary Jazz Festival apart is its two-stage feedback process. Student ensembles receive immediate on-stage comments after their performances, followed by a 30-minute, one-on-one clinic with a guest adjudicator.

“It gets the students to interact with people who play this music all the time — and in some cases, wrote it,” Lydeen said. “They are all deeply steeped in tradition and the jazz idiom and can impart that wisdom on the students.”

“The goal is to provide valuable feedback to students in a positive and constructive way,” he added. “Encouraging students to keep coming back year after year is a huge part of the festival.”

Spotlight on University of Mary Students

University of Mary students play a dual role as performers and the driving force behind the festival itself. Music students manage logistics, stage changes, announcements, and adjudication flow — making the festival run smoothly from start to finish.

“We literally couldn’t do it without them,” Lydeen said. “They really run the festival.”

Several standout student moments are planned for the concert, including senior guitarist Kalen Hill of Minot, a music education major, who will be featured on Spyro Gyra’s high-energy “Para ti Latino.” Audiences can also look forward to a crowd-pleasing “tenor battle” on the classic jazz tune “Sweet Georgia Brown” between senior saxophonist Mya Tena of Bismarck, a four-year band veteran, and junior Damien Hartze of Bismarck, a marketing major — a playful nod to one of jazz’s most time-honored traditions.

A Night to Celebrate Jazz — and the Arts

For Lydeen, the festival’s staying power comes down to community support.

“It’s all about supporting the arts in the Bismarck-Mandan community,” he said. “We have a thriving arts scene, but it takes the support of patrons to make that happen.”

As jazz itself is never the same twice, neither is the University of Mary Jazz Festival.

“Every year is different,” Lydeen said. “Just like the jazz art form, it’s never the same concert twice.”

Jazz fans are encouraged to arrive early, grab a good seat, and get ready for a night of world-class music, infectious rhythms, and a tradition that continues to swing strong.

The University of Mary Jazz Festival reflects the university’s broader commitment to excellence in the performing arts and its role in enriching the cultural life of the Bismarck-Mandan community. Through its music programs, the University of Mary provides students with hands-on, professional-level experiences in performance, production, and collaboration. Music students regularly work alongside world-class guest artists, participate in regional and national festivals, and help produce major events on campus, strengthening both their professional preparation and the region’s vibrant arts scene.

For more information and tickets, visit www.umary.edu/jazz.