Students of the San Jacinto College Central Campus Jazz Ensemble will perform their first concert of the year March 1 alongside musical guest Dr. Aric Schneller. The visiting artist will also share the stage with the Faculty Jazz Combo to perform four selections including one of his original pieces titled “Beefy’s Baby Blues.”

Central campus music professor Jeffrey Adams will direct the concert that includes students from the Jazz Ensemble playing improvised solos.

In addition to performing with an artist of Schneller’s caliber, Adams said he hopes this performance offers participants another valuable opportunity.

“I am hoping this event will motivate the performing students to prepare for a concert in a relatively short amount of time,” he said.

Likewise, Adams said hosting free concerts benefits the San Jac community by providing it an occasion to hear the College’s musicians perform America’s only original art form. However, he notes, it is not an easy task. “There are financial challenges to bring in a guest artist,” he said. According to the program, contributions from Yamaha Music, Music and Arts, and the SJCC Music Department made the event possible.

Schneller is an associate professor of music and the Director of Jazz Studies at Sam Houston State University. He is a former member of the Grammy-nominated University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band.

The Central campus music department will host several events during the spring semester including another concert featuring the Jazz Ensemble, along with the Dobie High School Jazz Band April 21, and a recital for clarinet and saxophone students March 31.

The concert with Dr. Aric Schneller will take place March 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Corbin Hall of the Monte Blue Music Building (C5) on the Central campus.