University of Idaho names new leadership for jazz festival

University of Idaho School of Music Director Torrey Lawrence and jazz professors Vern and Vanessa Sielert will lead the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival through its golden anniversary in 2017, the UI announced Wednesday.

Lawrence said the three will continue in their current roles and take on additional responsibilities for the jazz festival.

Lawrence said the festival will see changes as it approaches its 50th celebration, including shortening the length of the festival from four days to three.

“We’re considering changes to the concerts, to the timing of the concerts, to the way we reach out to the community,” he said.

New staff will also be added, he said.

“We’re looking at reorganizing staffing,” Lawrence said. “I’ll be overseeing the staff we hire.”

The festival was recently taken back under the umbrella of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences at the request of president Chuck Staben, according to Andrew Kersten, dean of CLASS.

Following the change, the festival’s executive director, Steve Remington, who served in that capacity since 2010, was removed from his position, as was its artistic director of 10 years, John Clayton.

Lawrence, who has served on the UI faculty since 1998, also conducts the concert band and previously directed the Vandal Marching Band. He is an instructor of tuba and euphonium.

The Sielerts, who joined the school of music faculty in 2006, both teach jazz band classes. Her focus is on saxophone and his is on trumpet.