FITCHBURG – Fitchburg State will welcome Grammy-winning jazz drummer Neal Smith during a free concert that will include performances by the university’s Fitchbyrds and the Fitchburg and Leominster High School jazz bands.

The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at Kent Recital Hall in the Conlon Fine Arts Building, 367 North St. Admission is free and open to the public.

Smith will also be giving a master class for university and high school students the afternoon of the performance.

Assistant Professor Amy McGlothlin of the university’s Humanities Department leads the Fitchbyrds Modern Jazz Band and organized the visit.

“We are excited to present this masterclass and concert with such an amazing guest artist,” McGlothlin said. “We hope to make this an annual event.”

The Fitchbyrds Modern Jazz Band includes Thomas Adler-Mandile, Ronan Cords, Jack Dancause, Rala Diakite, Joshua Leaffer, Joshua Lancaster, and director Amy McGlothlin. The Leominster High School Jazz Band is led by Robert Bergeron, and the Fitchburg High School Jazz Band is led by Nat Blankenship.

The event is a collaboration between Fitchburg State’s music program and the Fitchburg Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, El Toro Promotions, and Fitchburg High School and Leominster High School.

Learn more about Fitchburg State’s choral and instrumental programs at fitchburgstate.edu/music.