Jazz Thanksgiving at Inspiration Hall

Montana State University jazz ensembles’ annual Thanksgiving concert, which is set for Nov. 18, will honor local Bozeman public-school teachers and Bozeman Health workers.

“Thank You for Giving,” is set to begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-reception featuring live jazz and refreshments at Inspiration Hall in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson Hall. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to all teachers in the Bozeman school system, employees of Bozeman Health and their families.

“It will be a special evening of jazz, Thanksgiving and fun for the families, specifically honoring and celebrating the workers at Bozeman Health and our public school teachers,” said Ryan Matzinger, jazz professor in the MSU School of Music, who is coordinating the event.

Matzinger said the event is focused on giving back to our community frontline workers “and those who are so badly in need of an evening of fun, music and an escape from our pandemic reality. The students and I thought it would be so fun to offer this event as our way of honoring the jazz tradition of giving back.”

Matzinger said the event will feature performances from The One O’clock Jazz Band, the MSU Jazz Workshop Band, the Advanced Jazz Quintet and performers from the Black Student Union. Those in attendance may win gift cards from sponsoring organizations.

Those eligible to attend may RSVP using a QR code on posters that have been displayed at each Bozeman public school and at Bozeman Health. RSVPs can also be made at this link. More information can be found on the MSU events calendar. The online signups will close Monday, Nov. 15. Matzinger said any remaining tickets will be given to interested students in the School of Music and College of Arts and Architecture.

The concert will be recorded and rebroadcast as well as streamed on KGLT at 9 p.m. on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day.