Bill Lowman (right), founding headmaster of Idyllwild Arts Academy, congratulates Marshall Hawkins on stage at the William M. Lowman Concert Hall last Saturday. It was a magical night for both. The new venue honors Lowman’s 25 years heading the arts school as founding headmaster, and the evening paid tribute to Hawkins’ 30 years directing the Jazz Program at IAA. It was the Alumni Jazz Concert, the first concert in Lowman Hall, the new, state-of-the-art concert venue on the Idyllwild Arts campus. More on pages 10 and 11. Photo by Marshall Smith
Bill Lowman (right), founding headmaster of Idyllwild Arts Academy, congratulates Marshall Hawkins on stage at the William M. Lowman Concert Hall last Saturday. It was a magical night for both. The new venue honors Lowman’s 25 years heading the arts school as founding headmaster, and the evening paid tribute to Hawkins’ 30 years directing the Jazz Program at IAA. It was the Alumni Jazz Concert, the first concert in Lowman Hall, the new, state-of-the-art concert venue on the Idyllwild Arts campus. More on pages 10 and 11.
Photo by Marshall Smith

On a foggy evening, with the side of the William B. Lowman Concert Hall lit by a giant spotlight, a standing-room-only audience listened to some of the best jazz many said they

For Alumni Weekend, Idyllwild Arts Academy alumni and current students perform at the new Lowman Concert Hall on campus Saturday night. The Jazz Concert was the first performance in the new hall and was dedicated to Marshall Hawkins, who is celebrating 30 years at Idyllwild Arts.Photo by Jenny Kirchner
For Alumni Weekend, Idyllwild Arts Academy alumni and current students perform at the new Lowman Concert Hall on campus Saturday night. The Jazz Concert was the first performance in the new hall and was dedicated to Marshall Hawkins, who is celebrating 30 years at Idyllwild Arts. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

had ever heard. The evening was a tribute to Marshall Hawkins, who for more than 30 years, has been Idyllwild Arts’ director of Jazz Programs and has taught jazz by loving the story and loving his students. Said Hawkins of his IA career, “My gift is not to play music but rather to be as lifting with it as I can be. It does not come from me but through me.”

Alumni and current students pose with Marshall Hawkins after the jazz performance Saturday night at the Lowman Concert Hall. Photo by Jenny Kirchner
Alumni and current students pose with Marshall Hawkins after the jazz performance Saturday night at the Lowman Concert Hall.
Photo by Jenny Kirchner

The Alumni Jazz Concert, on Saturday, March 5, was the first audience event at the new, state-of-the-art concert hall on the Idyllwild Arts campus. Jazz alums, students of Hawkins, came and played for the man who inspired them with his love for this iconic American art form. Alums from 1987 through 2014 returned to honor Marshall Hawkins. They included Evan Christopher, clarinet (1987); Ray Clemens, bass (1996); Patrick Farrell, drums (1997); Andy Fraga Jr. drums (1997); Daniel Sazer-Krebbers, bass (2002); Tommy Cooper, trumpet (2004); Will Snyder (2004);Graham Dechter, guitar (2004); Mike Barnett, piano (2005); Caitlin Flaxman, voice (2009); Nora Germain, violin (2009); Jacob Scesney, alto sax (2011); Martin Budde, guitar (2014); and Luca Jacaruso, piano (2014).

Alums were joined by current IA jazz students and guitar man Bob Boss. IA Music Chair Chris Reba, a member of the Grammy Recording Engineer Division, manned the sound board, delicately balancing acoustic and amplified instrumentation and voices.

As the audience stepped out of the hall into the heavy fog at the end of the concert, Bill Lowman, IA founding headmaster, appeared out of the mist. Asked to stand for a picture in front of his name plate on the side of the hall, Lowman smiled and said “It’s Brigadoon.” And, for that evening, he was right — a magical place appeared out of the mist: There was music, history to celebrate and a great man to honor. It was a night to remember.

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