The Hamilton College Department of Music will host its first annual High School Jazz Festival. Under the direction of Monk Rowe, project director for Hamilton's Jazz Archive, the festival will feature internationally acclaimed jazz artists and jazz ensembles from several regional schools. The two-day festival will include two concerts, Friday, April 11 and Saturday April 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Wellin Hall of the Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts. Admission is free and open to the public.

Saxophonist and bandleader Bobby Watson, headlines the group of jazz greats that will participate in the festival. Watson is at the forefront of the current jazz scene and has been a force in jazz since performing with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 70s. Since then he has performed and toured worldwide with his own band. Other artists include bassist Keter Betts, drummer Duffy Jackson, guitarist Carmen Caramanica, pianist Rick Montalbano and Wendell Brunious on trumpet.

Participating schools include Proctor High School, Utica; Sauquoit High School, Sauquoit; C. Fred Middle School, Johnstown; Ilion High School, Ilion; Solvay High School, Syracuse; the Colgate University Jazz Ensemble; and the Hamilton College Jazz Ensemble with Doctuh Michael Woods, assistant professor of jazz.