Ten high school jazz bands from across the state of Georgia will perform in free mini-concerts from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 19 in the annual ABAC Jazz Festival on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.  The ABAC Latin Jazz Ensemble and the ABAC Jazz Choir will also perform.  Members of the community are invited to attend at no charge.        

Sponsored by the Department of Fine Arts and the ABAC Arts Connection, the Jazz Festival promotes jazz and jazz education in South Georgia.  The jazz bands will perform in The Meadows in the center of the ABAC campus.         

Tift County High School kicks off the Jazz Festival at 10 a.m. followed by Colquitt County High School at 10:30 a.m., Americus Sumter County High School at 11 a.m., Lee County High School at 11:30 a.m., ABAC Latin Jazz Ensemble at noon, Dougherty County High School at 12:30 p.m., Valdosta High School at 1 p.m., Lanier County High School at 1:30 p.m., Hampton High School at 2 p.m., Berrien High School at 2:30 p.m., Riverdale High School at 3 p.m., and the ABAC Jazz Choir at 3:30 p.m.         

Visitors can bring their own lunch or just come and listen to the music. In the event of rain, the Jazz Festival will take place in Howard Auditorium. A Jazz Clinic with Tim Green for the high school students will be held at 4 p.m. in Howard Auditorium following the performances         

Green is a well-known alto saxophonist who will perform with the ABAC Jazz Ensemble at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium in the final concert of the ABAC Presents! performing arts series for the 2017-18 year.          

Arts Connection Director Wayne Jones encouraged all season ticket holders to be seated by 6:45 p.m. for the performance.  A limited number of tickets to the performance are available at  www.purplepass.com/ABAC or call 229-391-4895. Adult admission is $20, and student admission is $10.