Jazz Festival
The 52nd Annual PSU Jazz Festival is planned for
March 6, 2026
School jazz band performances will be held on the Pittsburg State University campus at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts and Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburg.
The evening concert will be held at Memorial Auditorium. Tickets for the evening concert will go on sale to the public at the PSU Ticket Office soon!
Featured Artist
The 52nd Pitt State Jazz Festival is proud to welcome “Jazz Group of the Year” nominee The Lao Tizer Band as this year’s featured artist!
Fresh off the release of their brand-new album and video project, AMPLIFY, this powerhouse ensemble promises an unforgettable live experience. The new release marks a major evolution for the group, showcasing five original vocal tracks and four original instrumentals, all performed by an all-star lineup of world-class musicians.
Recorded and filmed live at the legendary EastWest Studios in Hollywood — complete with a seven-camera video shoot — AMPLIFY captures the band’s dynamic energy and genre-bending creativity.
When they take the stage at Pitt State, expect an electrifying mix of jazz, funk, soul, and world influences, led by keyboardist and bandleader Lao Tizer, a former “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee.
Joining him are:
- Elliott Yamin – Platinum-selling American Idol star (vocals)
- Gene Coye – GRAMMY-winning drum phenom (Hiromi, Terrence Blanchard)
- Phillip Whack – Saxophone great (The Temptations, Simon Phillips)
- Anthony Crawford – Rolling Stone 2022 “Bassist of the Year” nominee (Jeff Lorber, Erykah Badu)
Get ready for The Lao Tizer Band to take you on a high-energy musical ride through a bold blend of styles and sounds — celebrating the spirit of jazz in all its forms.
School Registration Open!
Band directors:
Don’t miss your chance to participate in one of the longest running, most exciting jazz festivals in the Midwest!
Recent festivals have attracted more than 70 middle and high school jazz bands from across the Four State Area, each of whom perform for a guest judge with high credentials. It's an unparalleled learning experience as well as an incredible opportunity to hear peer school jazz bands.
Your day will include:
- A critique of your school jazz band
- The chance for your students to hear other school jazz bands perform throughout the day
- The opportunity for your students to attend the evening concert with the featured artist and the PSU Jazz Band at $10 per person
Registration fee: $150
Registration must be received by Feb. 1, 2026, or your school will be removed from the Jazz Fest schedule. We are limited on the number of bands; don't delay — register yours today!
For additional information: jazzfest@pittstate.edu or 620-235-4466
About the PSU Jazz Festival
The 1st Annual Jazz Festival Concert was held in 1968 in Carney Auditorium at what was then called Kansas State College of Pittsburg.
The festival in its current format was started in 1974 by Professor Russell Jones with just 14 bands. In 1978, he passed the baton to Professor Robert Kehle, who continued to grow it until his retirement in 2023. It’s now coordinated by a committee of music faculty.
It has become a landmark cultural event for the area, the university, and the state of Kansas.
“Bob Kehle has done a wonderful job of turning the festival into a must-see event, inspiring countless students, educators, and professional musicians. It’s an incredibly exciting event that the students and the community look forward to each year.” — Professor Todd Hastings, director of the PSU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo.
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