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
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.