The 1st Annual SWOSU jazz festival was held on January 8, 1971 featuring Clark Terry. Dr. Terry Segress started the festival and ran it for 36 years. Dr. Keith Talley took over the jazz festival in 2007 and it is now under the direction of Dr. Richard Tirk. Other past guest artists have featured: Allen Vizzutti, Rich Matteson, Diane Reeves, Jamey Aebersold, Frank Mantooth, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous, Paquito D’Rivera, Eddie Daniels, Dan Haerle, Byron Stripling, Carl Fontana, Bobby Watson, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Matt Wilson, Donny McCaslin, Sean Jones, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, and Randy Brecker, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Tia Fuller, among many others. Regional university, high school and middle school jazz bands are invited to perform for comments and ratings during the festival.
The festival is generously supported by the SWOSU Department of Music, the SWOSU Foundation, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Weatherford, and many other local donors.
The festival is generously supported by the SWOSU Department of Music, the SWOSU Foundation, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Weatherford, and many other local donors.
Coming Soon: Jazz Fest Through the Decades
Check out these documents from years pasts of SWOSU Jazz Fest!
1971-1979
1971-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2009
2010-2019
2020-present
For more information, please contact either Dr. Richard Tirk, Director of the SWOSU Jazz Festival and Professor of Music, or the SWOSU Music Office.
Dr. Richard Tirk
richard.tirk@swosu.edu
(580) 774-3772 office
SWOSU Music Office
music@swosu.edu
(580) 774-3708 music office
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Department of Music
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
Dr. Richard Tirk
richard.tirk@swosu.edu
(580) 774-3772 office
SWOSU Music Office
music@swosu.edu
(580) 774-3708 music office
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Department of Music
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
