Published: March 24, 1999

MEDIA ADVISORY

University of Colorado at Boulder music professor and jazz saxophonist Willie Hill will perform as part of a jazz combo for state legislators on Wednesday, March 31, at the Colorado History Museum.

The performance will incorporate a lecture about the history of jazz in America.

The program is part of a series of "Smart Lunches" that the university presents for the legislature highlighting some of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder's most dynamic scholars.

Hill has served as a professor of music education at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder for more than 10 years and also is assistant dean of the College of Music. He recently became the first black person elected to the Colorado Music Educators Hall of Fame.

He is president of the Colorado Music Educators Association and president of the International Association of Jazz Educators. He also co-authored the recently published book, "Learning to Sight-Read Jazz, Rock, Latin and Classical Styles."

Hill is an internationally recognized jazz musician and has performed locally as part of the Chautauqua Forum Series. His jazz quintet will perform on May 5 as part of the Chancellor's Community Lecture Series.

Hill holds master's and doctoral degrees in music education from the University of Colorado at Boulder.