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The Crimson & Gold Connection: Pittsburg State to Host 50th Annual Jazz Festival Next Month

KRPS | By Fred Fletcher-Fierro,
Matthew Witt
Published February 14, 2024 at 12:20 PM CST
Matt Catingub
Pittsburg State Department of Music
Matt Catingub

The festival has reached capacity, with more than 70 high school and middle school bands on tap to come to Pittsburg to perform and be judged. Beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing throughout the day, student bands will take turns playing for a group of judges who are experienced educators and musicians.

A historic event decades in the making, on Friday, March 1st at Pittsburg State. The 50th Annual PSU Jazz Festival.

This year's event includes a special guest concert featuring the Matt Catingub Big Band. The jazz festival is now an annual transition; it had humble beginnings in 1974 when it was established by music professor Rusty Jones with just 14 bands.

In 1978, he passed the baton to Professor Bob Kehle, who continued to grow it until his retirement last year.

Long-time Pitt State music professor Todd Hastings taking the reins this year. Todd recently spoke with KRPS Senior announcer Matt Witt about what he’s in store for this year's PSU Jazz Festival.

Click this link to purchase tickets.

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Kansas News MusicPittsburg State University
Fred Fletcher-Fierro
Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.
See stories by Fred Fletcher-Fierro
Matthew Witt
Email Matt at mwitt@pittstate.edu
See stories by Matthew Witt