It is our pleasure to invite high school students to participate in the 2nd Annual Loyola University New Orleans Big Easy Band Fest! Featuring the Bourgeois Honor Bands, this 2-day festival will take place Saturday-Sunday November 7-8, 2026. The Finalé Honor Bands concert will take place on Sunday November 8 at 3:00 PM in Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall. 

Please be aware that details are subject to change. Check back for up-to-date info, or sign up for our mailing list!    

ALIEN STATUS by James Bartelle
Directed by Cuba Hatheway

Extraterrestrials busk in the French Quarter. Diego pours a cup of coffee. A mailman's truck has just been stolen. And strange government agents are asking some suspicion-raising questions. ALIEN STATUS is a wild, lyrical, and hilarious new work set in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood that skewers assumptions about race and refuge, and delivers with the one-two punch of a triple espresso.

New Orleans classical guitarist and Loyola faculty member Brian King will be presenting a dynamic recital exploring a broad historical and stylistic range of the guitar. The program spans original works, jazz and folk arrangements, and Brazilian music, alongside a special showcase on the massive 14-string theorbo. 

Experience a captivating jazz set with Izzy Chase, featuring Marion Mallard (bass) and Gerald Watkins (drums). The trio brings a fresh lineup of original works by Chase alongside reimagined favorites from legendary songsmiths like Vince Guaraldi and Jimmy Webb.

Takeshi Nagayasu is a versatile pianist who has been recognized and has won many
top prizes in competitions such as the Kosciuszko Foundation, Jacob Flier, Artist
Presentation Society, Borderland Chopin, Nashville Chopin, Rosamond Haeberle,
Texas State Piano Festival Concerto, and the International Robert Schumann
Competition in Germany. He has reached the semifinal round and received a special
prize for the best interpretation of Fauré Impromptu at the Concours International

Uptown Threauxdown is a full-scale celebration of original sound at Loyola University New Orleans, and this year, the energy starts at a fever pitch. The night ignites with explosive sets from the Hip Hop and RnB Ensembles, bringing fresh beats, sharp lyricism, and an undeniable groove to the stage right out of the gate. It’s a high-octane introduction to the raw talent and original production defining the current scene.

Robert Gillespie, violinist and professor, was responsible for string teacher training in the School of Music until his retirement. Ohio State has one of the largest and most extensive string pedagogy degree programs in the nation. Under Gillespie’s leadership, Ohio State received the 2015 ASTA Institutional Leadership Award as the premier string education university in the country. Gillespie is a past national President of the American String Teachers Association. He is a frequent guest conductor of All-State, region and festival orchestras.

Join us for an inspiring afternoon & evening with guest lecturer and performer Asher Armstrong. 

Join us for the 2026 New Orleans Music Teachers Association Piano Sonata Competition!

Please be aware that details are subject to change. Check back for up-to-date info, or sign up for our mailing list!