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Get ready for the sweet summer sounds of jazz in the city and on campus. The University is again a sponsor of the , a five-day celebration of world-class jazz music and community spirit, taking place June 25-29 at venues across the city, including a special final event at .

The 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest continues its tradition of bringing legendary performers and rising stars to Central New York. This year’s lineup includes such internationally acclaimed artists as Trombone Shorty, The Spinners, Gunhild Carling and Todd Rundgren, along with the University’s own student jazz ensemble, Orange Juice.

The grand finale of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest, “Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service,” will be held on Sunday, June 29, at Hendricks Chapel. The Spelman College Glee Club will perform, along with the University’s , the alumni group of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble and a community choir composed of Syracuse-area residents.

Orange Juice Jazz Combo

Among the festival’s featured performers is the jazz combo, a standout student ensemble of instrumental and vocal performers from the Setnor School of Music. They will perform at 4 p.m. Friday, June 27, on the Jazz Fest Main Stage, Clinton Square.

The ensemble performs regularly in concerts on campus and at community events throughout the year. This will be the ensemble’s third appearance at the Syracuse Jazz Fest under the musical direction of John Coggiola, director of jazz and commercial music in the .

Group members are the following:

• Luke Brady, bass;
• Catherine Cosenza, vocalist;
• Giulianna Iapalucci, drums;
• Ania Kapllani, vocalist;
• Sawyer Kidd-Myers, saxophone;
• Xaden Nishimitsu, trumpet;
• Owen Wernow, guitar; and
• Kai Wong, keyboard.

The ensemble will perform music from legendary artists Wayne Shorter, Thelonius Monk, Michel Legrande, Nate Smith, Vincent Youmans, Victor Schertzinger and Gene DePaul.

Fusing Gospel and Jazz

Wrapping up the festival, Hendricks Chapel’s “ program will offer a unique blend of spiritual inspiration and musical artistry. The event will begin at 3 p.m., with a pre-event outdoor community luncheon on the Quad from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Both events are free to attend.

Reverend Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, invites the community to this uplifting inclusive experience that fuses and celebrates gospel and jazz music, highlighted by special guests, , now in its 100th year.

“To host the Sunday Gospel Jazz Service on the campus of ������ is a joy and honor, as the Syracuse International Jazz Fest is widely known and respected, and we at Hendricks Chapel hope to contribute in ways that are memorable and meaningful,” Konkol says. “The Spelman College Glee Club, students and alumni of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, and Syracuse-area Community Choir will unite to provide a wonderful experience that acclaims the splendor of gospel and jazz music, sparks spiritual renewal and blesses our beloved community.”

All Syracuse International Jazz Fest events are free and open to the public.

For the full schedule and artist lineup, visit .