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Jazz fest draws high school students

Area schools, musicians hold day of music, learning

Greg Yasinitsky
Greg Yasinitsky

Rich golden notes and glints of similarly colored instruments lit up Bryan Hall Theatre at WSU Pullman on Wednesday during the School of Music’s Jazz Festival Gala Concert.

The day-long music festival has taken place each autumn for at least the past 22 years, according to Greg Yasinitsky, director of both the WSU school of Music and WSU Jazz Big Band.

Yasinitsky, who founded the festival and has been with WSU for nearly 35 years, said it has changed a lot since its inception.

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WSU jazz studies earns honors at Hampton jazz festival

Michado Mijiga
Michado Mijiga

The WSU jazz studies program in the School of Music was recognized at the recent 2014 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho.

WSU saxophonist Michado Mijiga was selected from soloists on the festival’s College Day to perform at Hamp’s Club that evening. He also competed and was chosen as a featured soloist with the Lionel Hampton Youth Jazz Orchestra in the final evening’s concert.

The WSU Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Greg Yasinitsky, professor and director of the school, was selected to present an invited performance during the evening Young Artists Concert.

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Yasinitsky inducted into state music educators hall of fame

Greg Yasinitsky
Greg Yasinitsky

Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and director of the WSU School of Music, recently was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame, part of the national organization. The honor recognizes exceptional support, inspiration and contribution to the growth and development of music education, both public and private, in the state.

Yasinitsky is also recipient of a 2014 ASCAP-Plus Award for composition from the American Association of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and an arts excellence award from the WSU Student Entertainment Board.

More musical achievements for Yasinitsky