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College welcomes back Jazz Festival for second straight year
The Advocate
While headlining acts for this year’s Mt. Hood Jazz Festival have not been determined, integrating the MHCC campus in the festival and expansion have been the key focus, according to Susie Jones, president of the Gresham/Mt. Hood Jazz Association and MHCC music instructor.
“We are working to integrate the instructional programs on campus,” Jones said. “We’re starting with Integrated Media and we would like to work to (include) Visual Arts and Hospitality and Tourism.”
According to Jones, students can be involved in the public relations of the festival, graphic design, sound production, broadcasting possibilities and event management.
“They can use their skills to create a community-wide event,” Jones said. “And the jazz festival is one of those things that makes the college unique.”
Jones said, “There are more parts of the college that could eventually be part of the whole process.”
This is the second year the festival has been back at the college, after a five-year separation.
“It’s like coming home,” Jones said of the festival’s return to the campus.
“People have a lot of good memories of the festival over the years and they feel like it’s home.”
Ticket prices haven’t been determined, but Jones said many of the activities are free.
“Last year I don’t think enough people realized that the outdoor events were free,” Jones said. Tickets will be required for festival events held Friday and Saturday evening.
“There will be a website where they (participants) can buy in advance or they can purchase them at the door,” Jones said. “The jazz festival in its 28 years has always brought world-class talent and people can expect the same this year.”
Jones is also excited about the fact that “new partnerships (are) forming.”
“A lot of organizations have come to us, which means they know it’s an important event to the community,” Jones said.
New participants include the Jazz Society of Oregon. “They are going to use our event to induct artists into the Oregon Jazz Hall of Fame,” Jones said. “They induct one person per year.” Audience members who purchase a ticket for Friday evening events will be able to see the induction.
Jones said the festival usually does buys print ads and said local radio station KMHD is also a big help in promoting the festival.
“It would be difficult for the festival to exist without the support of KMHD,” Jones said. “KMHD is sort of the beacon for all jazz events in the Portland metro area.”
When it comes to finding an audience, Jones said, “As the word gets out, the audience will grow. You’re always finding a new audience.”