Friday: Join the R&D Big Band for a night of fresh, fun big band jazz, directed by legendary Michigan Tech Professor Emeritus Mike Irish. JazTec, Michigan Tech’s top small jazz group, and the Video Game Music Ensemble, a student-led ensemble dedicated to arranging and performing music from popular video games, open the concert.
Saturday: Join the Jazz Lab Band for an exciting night of big band compositions by Pontiac, Michigan-born trumpeter, composer, and arranger Thad Jones. Directed by Drew Kilpela, Lab Band will perform Jones’ classic arrangements for his own group, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, alongside seldom heard selections from his time in the Count Basie orchestra, arrangements he wrote for trumpeter Harry James in 1963, and a daring vocal arrangement of the standard “Bye Bye Blackbird” written for R&B singer Ruth Brown. Workshop Brass Band kicks off the night with high-energy New Orleans brass band music. (Earplugs and dancing shoes recommended!)
——EVENT DETAILS——
🗓️ Friday-Saturday, October 25-26, 2025
🕗 7:30 p.m. each night
📍 Rozsa Backstage
🎟️ Pay As You’re Able Tickets ($20 Full Fee)**
⏳ Duration: approx. 90 mins, with intermission
💺 General Admission
TICKETS: events.mtu.edu/event/backstage-jazz-michigan-tech-jazz-2025
CONTENT GUIDANCE: high-energy loud music, earplugs (and dancing shoes) are recommended.
——ARTISTS, SERIES, AND SPONSOR DETAILS——
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
R&D Big Band
Directed by Drew Kilpela, the R&D performs repertoire from Jazz’s storied history including a mix of traditional and modern big band repertoire, emphasizing traditional repertoire. R&D learns tunes by ear and spends time on improvisation and defining chord changes for improvising.
JazTec
JazTec is a dynamic 5 to 7-piece jazz combo that specializes in contemporary jazz, funk, and original styles. The instrumentation of 3 horns and rhythm section allows each member ample opportunity to explore jazz improvisation and composition and to develop an individual style.
Video Game Music Ensemble
Two Huskies channeled their love of jazz, funk, fusion, and video game music into a 30-member student-run ensemble that arranges, rehearses, and performs songs from video game franchises. Computer engineering major Ryan Briggs and mechanical engineering graduate Sean Hanson '21 formed the Video Game Music ensemble in 2019 when they discovered their mutual appreciation for the genre.
Jazz Lab Band
The award-winning Michigan Tech Jazz Lab Band is the top jazz ensemble at Michigan Tech, touring regionally every January. Their busy schedule includes numerous concerts and club dates throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, guest artist concerts featuring performers such as Caroline Davis, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Maynard Ferguson, Byron Stripling, Frank Mantooth, Frank Wess, Wendell Harrison, Woody Herman, and the Young Thundering Herd, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra, an annual one-week Midwest Tour, and featured performances at various conventions such as the Midwestern Conference on School Music. The Jazz Lab Band has toured Jamaica six times and has been chosen as the Outstanding Large Ensemble at the Aquinas Intercollegiate Big Band Festival, Grand Rapids, MI and the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Collegiate Jazz Festival on numerous occasions. The students composing this ensemble come from all majors.
Workshop Brass Band
The Workshop Brass Band performs works learned by ear, stemming from the New Orleans Brass Band tradition. That means you’ll hear Workshop play old favorites like When the Saints Go Marching In, and Basin Street Blues alongside traditional brass band versions of hymns like I’ll Fly Away and What a Friend We Have in Jesus right up against modern brass band takes on R&B hits like Sexual Healing and Just My Imagination. The Workshop Brass Band puts on a show, unlike anything you’ve seen in the UP!
ABOUT MICHIGAN TECH JAZZ
Michigan Tech Jazz, directed by Adam Meckler, brings the Keweenaw a wide range of jazz experiences performed by students, local performers, and national names. Its diverse ensembles transform the Rozsa backstage into an intimate jazz club and blow off the roof with the annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Festival.
Learn more at www.mtu.edu/vpa/music/ensembles/jazz/
ABOUT DREW KILPELA
Drew Kilpela is a trombonist hailing from Okemos, Michigan. Active in performing arts throughout his youth, Kilpela attended Michigan State University to pursue a degree in jazz trombone, studying primarily under Michael Dease. He continued his studies in higher education at the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the famed One O'clock Lab Band.
Read Drew’s full bio at
https://www.mtu.edu/vpa/department/faculty/kilpela-drew/
ABOUT MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC SERIES
The Michigan Tech Music Series unites students, faculty, and community members for a vibrant season of live music in the Keweenaw. Enjoy the commanding Keweenaw Symphony and experience Michigan Tech Jazz as it transforms the Rozsa and McArdle Theatre into Orchestra, stirring Michigan Tech Choirs, and inventive New Music events. Feel the dynamic energy of the Superior Wind Symphony, Campus Concert Band, and iconic Huskies Pep Band, intimate jazz clubs.
Part of the annual Rozsa Season, the Michigan Tech Art, Music, and Theatre Series are presented by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Through these series, students and faculty create art that connects us to the world. With majors in audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and entertainment technology, and nine minors, the department fosters creativity, self-motivation, and the development of practical and artistic skills. Everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone.
Learn more about the Rozsa Center and the Michigan Tech Music Series by visiting
https://www.mtu.edu/rozsa/events-and-programs/explore-by-series/michigan-tech-music-series/
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
This event is made possible by the Visual and Performing Arts Department, and its Circle of Supporters. /www.mtu.edu/rozsa/support/giving/donors/
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**WHAT IS PAY AS YOU'RE ABLE?
Pay As You're Able ticketing is designed to remove financial barriers and promote greater accessibility to the performing arts. The program allows guests to select their ticket from various price levels based on what they can afford.
Learn more about Pay As You're Able at: www.mtu.edu/rozsa/events-and-programs/ticket-information/
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The full digital program will be available online at least one day in advance bit.ly/rozsaprograms
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PLAN YOUR VISIT: www.mtu.edu/rozsa/plan-your-visit/
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