DOVER- Jazz Vermont announces its 25th concert on Thursday, July 16, from 5 to 10 pm at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow

The concert will feature Jazz Vermont’s eight bands including three big bands, three nine-piece bands and two jazz octets and vocalists. Featuring guest artists tenor saxophonist and Chuck Mangione alumnus, Chris Vadala, trombonist and Ray Charles Alumnus, Jeff Galindo. Vermont band directors include Dave Ellis, trumpet, Glendon Ingalls, trumpet; and Bear Irwin, trombone. The concert will start at 5 pm and go until every band has performed (about 10 pm). There will be plenty of music for those who can’t arrive until 7 pm or so. This year’s featured vocalist is composer-songwriter, Mary Gatchell. She is a graduate of New York University in Theory and Composition, has performed at Carnegie Hall and performs on the New York scene at clubs such as the Blue Note and the Knitting Factory. For more on Gatchell visit www.MaryGatchell.com

Jazz Vermont is a five-and-one-half day Band Camp for Grownups. Participants rehearse, study and play six to seven hours a day in preparation for the final concert on Thursday night. Most Jazz Vermonters have other careers including medicine, law, computers, management, teaching, dentistry, etc. Participants attend from all over the world.

The program has been featured on the “Today Show,” 1986; PBS, 1987; and WBZ-Boston, 1987. The program has also been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Newsday, the LA Times, The Dallas Morning News and many more.

Jazz Vermont held its first week in 1985 at the Green Trails Inn in Brookfield. The concert that year was held in the church in the center of town due to rain. It’s been 25 years to this point and this year Jazz Vermont has one 20-year participant. This is the first year at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow.

Tickets cost $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12.