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Jazz Year

All That Jazz, Each and Every Year

Life as a music major or minor wouldn't be complete without the opportunity to explore your favorite composer, write your own symphony, or intern with a touring company.

Knox provides two amazing opportunities for our Jazz musicians to learn, challenge themselves, and put their musical skills to use: The Mirza Jazz Residency and the Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival.

A trumpeter plays in front of two windows at Jazz night. He is joined by a drummer and a bassist.

A woman turns her head and smiles. Her hair spreads with the movement of turning quickly, and flowers are frozen midair around her.

Jerome Mirza Jazz Residency

Jenny Scheinman’s All Species Parade!
November 2-6, 2026

The Jerome Mirza Jazz Residency is designed to benefit Knox students, jazz practitioners, and audiences of jazz lovers from the Galesburg and surrounding communities. It brings world-renowned jazz artists to campus for a week of intensive and collaborative jazz activities with Knox College students, culminating in a free public concert at the historic Orpheum Theatre.

Learn More about Mirza
The Knox Jazz Ensemble performs on stage under lighting that casts purple hues on the musicians.

Rootabaga Jazz Festival

May 11-15, 2027 
Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom
Matt Gold & Storms of Love

Founded in 1980, the Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival is a five-day celebration that brings together Knox College, the Galesburg community, with internationally acclaimed performers and local musicians. The festival features performances by the Knox Jazz Ensemble, faculty, alumni, and guest artists across a variety of community venues.

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Rehearsal to Performance—Jerome Mirza Jazz Residency

Take a quick look at the spring 2026 Jerome Mirza Jazz Residency featuring S. Carey and John Raymond from Shadowlands, starting with rehearsals and ending with performances.

A performer plays a flute in front of a microphone; purple stage lighting casts a purple glow.
Four trumpeters play their instruments during a concert; they are framed by purple lights.