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)