The 10th Annual Winter Jazz Festival will take place this Friday and Saturday on Sacramento State’s campus. CSUS Vocal Jazz Ensemble, with director Julie Adams, will open the first performance festival. The event starts at 8 p.m., Friday.

The Folsom High School Jazz Choir and the American River College Vocal Jazz Ensemble will also participate in the jazz festival on Friday night.

“I started the jazz festival ten years ago. Originally, the festival started with 14 bands.

Over the last three years, the bands have tripled. This year, there will be 50 bands performing over the two-day event,” said Ron Cunha, founder of the event.

The jazz festival will continue on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., with band and ensemble competitions at Sac State’s Music Building. A total of 50 junior high schools, high schools and colleges in Northern California will perform and be critiqued from judges. An awards concert will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.

“A guest star will be present at the awards concert on Saturday. Bobby Shew, a well-known trumpet player, and the Capitol Jazz Project will perform at the event,” said Cunha.

Tickets can be purchased at the CSUS Central Ticket Office at (916) 278-4323.