UCA hosts three-time Grammy nominee

Jon Metzger

By: Hannah Phillips
Office of Media Relations

The University of Central Arkansas is hosting Jon Metzger, a renowned jazz performer, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, as part of the artist-in-residence program.

All events are in the Reynolds Performance Hall and are open to the public.

On Tuesday, Metzger will perform a jazz workshop from 10-11 a.m. and a jazz improvisation clinic from 1-3 p.m. 

Thursday events include a jazz improvisation masterclass from 9:25-10:40 a.m. A second improvisation clinic will be from 1:40-2:30 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m., Metzer will perform with the UCA Studio Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo. 

“Jon Metzger is known internationally as an artist, a composer, and an educator,” said Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the UCA College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “Students will get to see all three sides of this jazz legend in action during the residency.”

Metzger has recorded seven albums and is a three-time Grammy nominee. He wrote The Art and Language of Jazz Vibes, and his compositions have received 30 consecutive American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Plus awards. He is a professor of music and artist-in-residence at Elon University, where he was also awarded the University Distinguished Scholar Award for 2005. 

Metzger has conducted clinics at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention and the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference. His quartet has toured internationally in Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Austria, and Metzger is a jazz ambassador for the U.S. Department of State.

For additional information or to view some events via live stream, visit CAHSS artists-in-residence