The 1st Annual SWOSU jazz festival was held on January 8, 1971 featuring Clark Terry. Dr. Terry Segress started the festival and ran it for 36 years. Dr. Keith Talley took over the jazz festival in 2007 and it is now under the direction of Dr. Richard Tirk. Other past guest artists have featured: Allen Vizzutti, Rich Matteson, Diane Reeves, Jamey Aebersold, Frank Mantooth, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous, Paquito D’Rivera, Eddie Daniels, Dan Haerle, Byron Stripling, Carl Fontana, Bobby Watson, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Matt Wilson, Donny McCaslin, Sean Jones, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, and Randy Brecker, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Tia Fuller, among many others. Regional university, high school and middle school jazz bands are invited to perform for comments and ratings during the festival.

The festival is generously supported by the SWOSU Department of Music, the SWOSU Foundation, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Weatherford, and many other local donors.

View our rich history of past guest artists who have performed at the SWOSU Jazz Festival.