Schedule

The 59th annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival will take place February 26th – March 1st, 2026.
Tickets go on sale Monday, December 1st, 2025.

Below is the Schedule from our 2025 Festival.

Thursday, February 20

9:30 a.m. CST

  • High School Invitational
    • Lake Central High School – St. John, IN
    • Naperville Central High School – Naperville, IL
    • Whitney M. Young High School – Chicago, IL
    • Oak Park and River Forest High School – Oak Park, IL
    • St. Charles East High School – St. Charles, IL
    • Fenton High School – Bensenville, IL
    • Addison Trail High School – Addison, IL
    • Glenbard East High School – Lombard, IL
  • Sharel Cassity, Danny Gottlieb and Ryan Keberle with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band (at approx. 12:00 p.m. CST)

Friday, February 21

11:30 a.m. CST

  • University Performances
    • Late Night Blues – Elmhurst University
    • KCKCC Blue Devil Funk Band – Kansas City Kansas Community College
    • Elmhurst University Combo – Elmhurst University
    • KCKCC 1:00 Jazz Combo – Kansas City Kansas Community College
    • The Columbia College Fusion Ensemble – Columbia College Chicago
    • UW-Whitewater Jazz Ensemble II – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
    • Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra – Northwestern University

7:30 p.m. CST

    • UW-Whitewater Jazz Ensemble I – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
    • WDR Big Band and The Yellowjackets

Saturday, February 22

9:30 a.m. CST

  • Free clinic/masterclass with Sharel Cassity, Danny Gottlieb and Ryan Keberle

11:30 a.m. CST

  • University Performances
    • ONU Jazz Combo – Olivet Nazarene University

    • KCC Jazz Lab Band – Kellogg Community College
    • Ashland University Jazz Orchestra – Ashland University
    • Capital University Big Band – Capital University
    • The Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble – The Ohio State University
    • Purdue Jazz Band – Purdue University

7:30 p.m. CST

    • Sharel Cassity, Danny Gottlieb and Ryan Keberly with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band
    • WDR Big Band, Bob Mintzer musical director, and special guest Dave Stryker

Sunday, February 23

11:30 a.m. CST

  • University Performances
    • Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Trio – Illinois Wesleyan University
    • JJC Jazz Band – Joliet Junior College
    • DuPage Community Jazz Ensemble – College of DuPage
    • Harper College Jazz Ensemble – Harper College
    • Hillsdale College Big Band – Hillsdale College
    • Elmhurst University Jazz Band – Elmhurst University
  • Featured Performance: WDR Big Band with Bob Mintzer (at approx. 4:15 p.m. CST)
     

Connect with #elmhurstu

Instagram @elmhurst.university

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Bluejay moms! Thank you for all that you do to support your students, our campus community and everything in between. Today, we celebrate you. 💙💐