Loyola Jazz Fest Draws in Potential Students

Annual event showcases Loyola's jazz program and attracts high schoolers considering college

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:37pm

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Loyola University's annual jazz festival featured performances by the school's Jazz Ensemble, faculty, and guest artist Aubrey Logan, drawing in high school students interested in the university's music programs. The festival, which has been running for 57 years, aims to both provide an educational opportunity for students and introduce Loyola's offerings to prospective applicants.

Why it matters

The Loyola Jazz Fest is an important recruitment tool for the university, allowing high school students to experience the energy and talent of Loyola's jazz program firsthand. It also serves as a chance for the jazz faculty to collaborate and perform together, fostering a sense of community within the department.

The details

The three-day festival included a traditional jazz concert sponsored by Connie and Elaine Jones, a faculty concert showcasing Loyola's renowned jazz instructors, and a performance featuring guest artist Aubrey Logan and the student Jazz Ensemble. According to Jazz Studies Coordinator Gordon Towell, the event gives high schoolers a chance to "see the institution, see what's going on energy-wise, meet our students, [and] hear our students." Adjunct professor Meryl Zimmerman, who performed in the faculty concert, noted that the event allows the busy instructors to come together and "sing with really good musicians who are also my friends."

  • The 57-year-old Loyola Jazz Fest was established by Joey Baer, who ran the jazz program.
  • This year's festival took place from March 12-14, 2026.

The players

Gordon Towell

Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Loyola University, who directed this year's Loyola Jazz Festival.

Aubrey Logan

The guest star performer at this year's Loyola Jazz Fest, known for her work with Postmodern Jukebox.

Meryl Zimmerman

An adjunct professor of jazz voice at Loyola University, who performed in the faculty concert.

Connie and Elaine Jones

Donors who sponsored the traditional jazz concert that opened the Loyola Jazz Fest.

Joey Baer

The founder of the Loyola Jazz Fest, which he started 57 years ago to bring jazz education groups together.

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What they’re saying

“We get quite a few students who come to our school because they get a chance to see the institution, see what's going on energy-wise, meet our students, hear our students, so I think it's a great event for Loyola and I'm just so happy to be part of it and get a chance to organize it.”

— Gordon Towell, Coordinator of Jazz Studies (loyolamaroon.com)

“The beauty of this art form is that when you play this music a lot, you just kind of know the typical conventions of how the music works. So if you know the song, you know the key, you have a chart with all the chords and all of the information, the basic information you need, you don't necessarily need much rehearsal.”

— Meryl Zimmerman, Adjunct Professor of Jazz Voice (loyolamaroon.com)

“It's just a lot of fun to get to sing with really good musicians who are also my friends. And usually, we're kind of busy doing our own thing, teaching, and so it's nice to have that opportunity.”

— Meryl Zimmerman, Adjunct Professor of Jazz Voice (loyolamaroon.com)

What’s next

Loyola plans to continue hosting the annual jazz festival, which has become an important recruitment tool for the university's music programs.

The takeaway

The Loyola Jazz Fest demonstrates how a university can leverage its artistic talent and community connections to not only provide enriching educational experiences for students, but also effectively attract prospective applicants to its programs.