Freddie Hubbard Memorial Jazz Band Festival 2025
This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, an Arts Midwest program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Indiana Arts Commission.
The legacy of Indianapolis trumpeter and composer Freddie Hubbard continues. The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation has once again supported the efforts of the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and Arsenal Technical High School in presenting the Freddie Hubbard High School Jazz Band Festival.
This non-competitive jazz festival, which took place over a day, featured nine high school bands from the Indianapolis area. The event included student performances, workshops, clinics, and peer-to-peer engagement. In its fourth year, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, led by IJF Education Director Rob Dixon, provided funding and professional guidance for this year's judges, clinicians, and performance groups.
This year’s featured clinician and performer was trumpeter Pharez Whitted. A native of Indianapolis who now resides in Chicago, Whitted has performed across the United States and internationally while maintaining a deep connection to his hometown. He earned his undergraduate degree from DePauw University and a master’s from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with Dr David Baker. With a direct connection to Indianapolis' jazz legacy, Whitted is the son of celebrated musicians Virtue Hampton and Thomas Whitted and the nephew of legendary trombonist Slide Hampton. Recently, he was named Chicago's "Jazz Musician of the Year."
The event also included performances by the Butler University Jazz Combo and the Indianapolis Jazz Collective, a resident ensemble of IJF led by Rob Dixon and featuring Pharez Whitted and Steve Allee.
About Freddie Hubbard:
Growing up in the neighborhoods surrounding Indiana Avenue, Freddie Hubbard was immersed in the rich sounds of jazz from an early age. By high school, his musical talent had flourished, and he showcased his trumpet skills as a member of the Arsenal Technical High School band.
After graduating from Arsenal Tech, Hubbard continued his studies at the Jordan Conservatory of Music—now part of Butler University—under the tutelage of Max Woodbury. 1958, he moved to New York City, where his career took off. Hard bop, post-bop, and jazz shaped his journey as he made his mark on the city's dynamic music scene. Today, the Indianapolis native is recognized as one of the greatest trumpet players in history, having performed alongside jazz legends such as Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, John Coltrane, Oliver Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Philly Joe Jones, and many others.
Throughout his prolific career, Hubbard released countless albums, including "First Light" (1971), which won the 1972 GRAMMY Award for “Best Jazz Performance by a Group.”
While Hubbard spent much of his life in New York City, his impact on Indianapolis remains significant. He inspired generations of jazz musicians, and his connection to Arsenal Technical High School continues to influence the city's jazz scene.
