New Trier High School Hosts 43rd Annual Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival Featuring The Roy Hargrove Big Band, with special guest, legendary alto saxophonist Bobby Watson!

New Trier High School is proud to announce the 43rd Annual Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival, taking place on Saturday, February 7, 2026. This year’s festival culminates in a highly anticipated evening performance by the world-renowned Roy Hargrove Big Band. Originally founded by the late, two-time Grammy-winning trumpeter in 1995, the ensemble carries forward Roy’s beloved musical spirit. 

Hargrove was a singular voice in modern music, known for his deep respect of the jazz tradition while simultaneously bridging the gap to contemporary hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul. His own jazz records are considered modern masterpieces, but many will know his sound from iconic records like Common’s Like Water for Chocolate and D’Angelo’s Voodoo. Roy’s expressive tone, infectious melodicism, and fearless approach to genre-bending continue to inspire today's artists. The Roy Hargrove Big Band features many of his collaborators, along with several bright young talents, playing the joyful music that made Roy the defining jazz artist of his generation.   

Legendary alto saxophonist Bobby Watson (a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and an early mentor to Roy Hargrove) will join the band at this concert as a special guest!

The New Trier Jazz Festival serves as a premiere educational event, bringing together student ensembles from across the country for a day of immersive musical development in a non-competitive atmosphere. Daytime activities, which are free and open to the public, include clinics and masterclasses presented by accomplished jazz educators, student jazz sessions, a noon performance by Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition, the Director’s Big Band, our annual Women in Jazz Dinner, and over 45 school jazz ensemble performances. 

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026.
• Time: Daytime festival events begin at 8:30 AM; the evening concert starts at 7:00 PM.
• Location: Gaffney Auditorium, New Trier High School (Winnetka Campus), 385 Winnetka Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093.
• Tickets: Evening concert tickets are available for purchase at www.ntjazz.com

For more information regarding the 43rd Annual Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival, please visit www.ntjazz.com or contact Nic Meyer at [email protected].

New Trier's Performing Arts Division supports students in a variety of dance, music, and theatre programs outside of the school day. These activities provide opportunities for all students to explore their interests, meet and collaborate with their peers, and work with adult artists and educators in a nurturing and creative environment.

Students who participate in the Performing Arts are accountable under the Academic Eligibility Policy, the Extracurricular Code, and other policies included in the Student Guidebook. We encourage families to review the Student Guidebook, specifically Student Rights and Responsibilities, Extracurricular Program, and the Extracurricular Code in order to better understand the district policies as related to participation in all of our productions.

Performing Arts Division Philosophy

The unifying purpose of the Performing Arts Division is to support the goals and philosophies of the dance, music, and theatre programs and foster artistic growth for all students through performance opportunities outside the regular school day. Each Performing Arts Division experience is designed to:

• Create positive and collaborative environments that challenge and support students and their intellectual and emotional development
• Meet students at their existing skill level and provide opportunities for growth
• Support students as they balance their curricular, extracurricular, and personal commitments and interests

The Division is also dedicated to developing personal, performance, and leadership skills for participating students.