Jazz Festival

The 40th Annual Mike O'Brien/Carol Moore Memorial Jazz Festival at Mineral Area College will take place on March 19 and 20, 2027. This event is designed to create an encouraging and educational environment for both students and directors. Following each performance, participating ensembles will work directly with one of our adjudicators in a clinic setting to receive valuable feedback and instruction.

This festival will continue to operate in a non-rated format, allowing the emphasis to remain on musical growth and learning rather than competition. In addition to recognizing Outstanding Individual Musicianship, the festival will feature expanded student opportunities, including masterclasses and hopefully jam sessions at various levels.

Registration for bands will open on August 1.  

Tickets for festival events/concerts will go on sale January 1, 2027-  right HERE or at the MAC Bookstore (M-F, 8am-4pm)

History of the Mineral Area Jazz Festival

Dennis McBride became the new band director at North County High School beginning the 1974-1975 school year. He, with the help of his good friend, Jim Widner conceived and planned the Mineral Area Jazz Festival from the outset.  Mr. McBride had previously taught band and had an excellent jazz program atJefferson City High School. Mr. McBride played trumpet and was also an instructor for the summer Stan Kenton Jazz Camps (with Jim) around the country before he came to North County.  The format for the festival was an all-day competition on a Saturday in April of each school year. Divisions for the competition included 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 2nd Band, Jr. High (Middle School and Combo categories.  Jim collected and arranged the guest artists for each year’s festival. The performances took place in two areas, the high school auditorium, and the high school field house. There were 3 judges (the guest artists) at each location.  The Jazz Festival concluded with a large concert in the evening after the competition. The concert featured the North County Jazz Band and a guest university band. The guest artists were featured throughout the evening with both ensembles.  The guest artists arrived on Thursday evening before the competition to rehearse and work with the North County Jazz Band. The following day each guest artist worked with each section and individuals throughout the entire school day.  The guest college band presented an assembly concert for the entire school on Friday. The college band’s personnel stayed in the homes of the members of the North County Jazz Band. Mr. McBride taught at North County for 7 years, before moving into a different vocation (computers). He rebuilt the program completely two times in his tenure with peak years of 1977 and 1981. Among other things, the 1977 band was onlyone of 3 bands from a multitude of different states to receive a “I” rating in a tough high school jazz competition at Memphis State University (Memphis, TN and Athens, GA were the other two). The 1981 band had a full book of professional charts and could easily play a 4-hour gig with no repetition. In each of their concerts that year, they did not duplicate any material, an indication of the unprecedented maturity of the band’s musicianship. The Mineral Area Jazz Festival continued until 1981. In 1987 Mr. Michael O’Brien brought the festival onto the Mineral Area College Campus.

The Mineral Area Jazz Festival Guest Artist History

2025 – Steve Wiest and Chip McNeill

2024 – Allen Vizzutti, Trumpet

2023 – Eric Marienthal, Saxophone; Reggie Thomas, Organ

2022 – Greg Bissonette, Drums

2021 – No Festival

2020 – Michael Dease, Trombone (cancelled)

2019 – Allison Miller, Drums

2018 – Melissa Aldana, Tenor Sax

2017 – Jeff Hamilton Trio

2016 – Doc Severinsen, Trumpet

2015 – New York Voices

2014 – Roger Ingram, Trumpet

2013 – Phil Woods, Alto Sax

2012 – Delfeayo Marsalis, Trombone

2011 – Jim Widner, Bass; Kim Park, Flute & Alto Sax; Mike Shannon, Tenor Sax; Brett Stamps, Trombone

2010 – Denis DiBlasio, Saxophone

2009 – Joey DeFrancesco, Organ

2008 – Wayne Bergeron, Trumpet

2007 – Steve Wiest, Trombone

2006 – Jim Manley, Trumpet

2005 – Larry Coryell, Guitar

2004 – Bobby Shew, Trumpet

2003 – No Guest Artist

2002 – Lou Marini, Alto Sax

2001 – Byron Stripling, Trumpet

2000 – Conrad Herwig, Trombone

1999 – Jon Faddis, Trumpet

1998 – Pete Christlieb, Tenor Sax

1997 – Bill Watrous, Trombone

1996 – Louis Bellson, Drums

1995 – Clark Terry, Trumpet

1994 – Frank Mantooth, Piano

1993 – Steve Wiest, Trombone

1992 – Ed Soph, Drums

1991 – Jamey Aebersold, Alto Sax

1990 – Guido Basso, Trumpet

1989 – Marvin Stamm, Trumpet

1988 – Jerry Coker, Tenor Sax

1987 – Marvin Stamm, Trumpet