Middle and High School students from Meridian Public School District received a first-hand education in music Friday as the district held its third annual Jazz Festival at The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.

 

Antonio Altman, director of arts for MPSD, said the music students came from Magnolia and Northwest middle schools, as well as Meridian High School to take part in the event.

 

“It’s our annual MPSD Jazz Festival, and our special guest for the day is the Alcorn State University Jazz Band,” he said.

 

Students were able to tour The MAX exhibits before hearing the Alcorn State band perform. The college musicians also shared with local students about the genre of Jazz and what makes it unique.

 

Altman said this year’s festival was especially exciting as it was the first time a university jazz band was able to attend and perform. Having Alcorn attend the event not only gave Meridian students an education in jazz, but it also showed them a path to higher education through music, he said.

 

“It offers the opportunity for students to see what’s at the next level,” he said. “So they’re seeing students that are in universities perform, so we’re real excited about that.”

Friday’s Jazz Festival also gave students a chance to show their skills and potentially earn scholarships through the recording studio at The MAX, Altman said, and the district wants to thank The MAX and all the other sponsors of the festival for making the opportunity available to the students.