The Washburn University Jazz Faculty Concert was organized in White Concert Hall Friday, Nov. 9, 2023, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The performers included Washburn jazz faculty, including Bill McKemy, lecturer of applied bass and jazz studies music; Craig Treinen, associate professor chair of theatre and music and director of jazz studies; Tetsuya Nishiyama, a new professor in Washburn, and Brian Steever, a drummer and teacher in Kansas City, Kansas.

There were audiences of many different ages from the Washburn community in attendance. Treinen introduced all the artists to the audience at the beginning. He also shared that the purpose of the concert was because of the Washburn faculty’s passion for serving the community, which is passionate about music.

“[…] so we put on a performance once a couple of times per semester. And it was because we enjoy playing jazz […] they’re also from the community, you know, and other musicians may be in the area. So it’s just a mixture of all kinds of people coming here. So we enjoy playing for all types of people,” Treinen said.

The Department of Music and Theatre in Washburn also has an orchestra, voice, and choir, full of all kinds of different instrument performances. After the concert, Steever also shared about himself and his feelings for the first performance at Washburn University. Stressing the importance of collaboration and student exposure, Steever noted that their jazz performances were driven by creativity and a shared passion for the music:

“[…] I never played with fantastic guitarists or the saxophone. So I was trying to have awareness about me. You know, let’s be creative and in company and that was my feelings. These guys were professors here. And so we put on a performance once a couple of times semester. And it was because we enjoy playing jazz, and we want to give the students an opportunity to yours,” Steever said.

During the performance, there were also solo moments for each of the artists during the transition of the song. This is also the chance for Nishiyama to play guitar and appear in Washburn’s community.

The jazz song “Yes and No” was the last song the five artists played together that night.
Washburn students can view the upcoming music events at the Washburn University Calender in White Concert Hall in the Washburn Calender.

Edited by Aja Carter and Jeremy Ford