WMU Jazz partners with the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University Jazz and the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music have been awarded a significant multi-year grant from the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization. This generous support will enhance the university's renowned Invitational Jazz Festival, which will now be known as the “Western Michigan University John Stites Jazz Festival.”

Beginning in 2025, the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization is providing support for Western’s jazz Festival, which brings high school students from across the Midwest to perform, receive feedback and clinics as well as instrument specific classes. A mainstay in Michigan for 47 years, these funds will be used to heighten the profile of the festival and enable WMU Jazz to invite some of the most important artists in jazz as guest performers. 

“WMU Jazz was something near to John’s heart, and I am so pleased that our two organizations are working together. I was only able to work with John on one record, but I have such fond memories of the sessions. We both used the same recording software, and we worked very closely on the recording together” says Dr. Andrew Rathbun, WMU Jazz Area representative. “It’s so meaningful to get an opportunity to celebrate John and his contributions to the community of artists, and to get a chance to grow our festival, inviting the highest echelon of artists to participate and share their music with students from across the Midwest in addition to the WMU Jazz Studies area”

A life-long jazz aficionado, Mr. Stites opened his own studio, Arcadia Recording in 1986, recording over 3,000 CD’s which included a number of Grammy-nominated jazz recordings. Jazz legends like Jimmy Cobb, Jamey Haddad, Sir Roland Hanna, Billy Hart, Fred Hersch, and Rodney Whitaker recorded at his studio. Mr. Stites also produced corporate projects for PBS, award-winning programs that aired on Michigan Public Radio and NPR, and taught recording techiques at Kalamazoo College. 

For more information about the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization and the John Stites Jazz Awards visit johnstitesjazzawards.org.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.