7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

Bethany Christian High School is hosting the first annual Midwest Regional Mennonite Jazz Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29. Students from several Mennonite schools will participate in master classes, led by Kris Brownlee (sax) and Greg Smucker (brass), and culminate in a free public concert at 7:30 p.m. in Greencroft Senior Center’s Jennings Auditorium.

The festival concert will be directed by Sonny Carreño, who has played percussion professionally for over 35 years in a wide variety of styles, including Latin, R&B, Rock/Pop, Country and Western, and World Beat. Recently, he has performed with The Banana Slugs, Double Barrel Darrel, Danny Barber, Anna Montgomery, the Tim Hochstetler Trio, and the Elkhart Symphony. A graduate of Texas State University with a degree in music education, Sonny taught high school band for five years and directed Goshen College’s Lavender Jazz for six years. He is now employed at The Woodwind and Brasswind in South Bend.