by jinxhayden
Upon the opening of New York’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music (NS/J) in 1986, there was an immediate bond between NS/J and Houston’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), thanks to the outreach of NS/J’s founding artistic director, Arnie Lawrence (1938 – 2005). Largely due to Mr. Lawrence’s efforts, HSPVA bassist Chris Walker was a member of NS/J’s very first … Read More Jazz Scholarship
Join the DocFest family for a special celebration honoring Robert “Doc” Morgan’s 85th birthday at Doc’s Jazz Club Houston on Wednesday evening, August 5, 2026. There will be three generations of HSPVA Jazz directors in the house. The evening’s entertainment is specifically curated to celebrate Doc’s legacy. Get dressed up, bring your friends and join us for this open-to-the-public special event. Purchase your tickets here! … Read More Celebrate Doc Morgan
Master of Ceremonies Donna Franklin, KTSU Program Director Donna Franklin has over 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry. She began her career in Cincinnati, Ohio before moving to Houston in 1999 as Smooth Jazz Night host for SUNNY 99.1. In 2003, Donna accepted a position with 95.7 THE WAVE. She soon became the first female solo morning show radio host in the … Read More Meet our MC for DocFest ’26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANNOUNCING DOCFEST ‘26 Featuring: CHRIS DAVE (HSPVA ’90), drums and SCOTT HARDY (HSPVA ’75), guitar/bass Donna Franklin (KTSU-FM), emcee HOUSTON, TX – MAY 27, 2026 Featured will be two renowned alumni, one representing the dawn of HSPVA’s now-legendary jazz instruction program, the other representing the program’s “noon,” when it began attracting national and international attention. 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2026 … Read More DocFest ’26 Press Release
The 2025–2026 school year marked an extraordinary chapter for Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, as the Jazz Department—led by Mr. James Westfall (Class of 2000), Director of Jazz Studies—hosted two milestone festivals and along with DocFest, honored three distinguished alumni with induction into the HSPVA Jazz Hall of Fame. Fall Jazz Festival — November 8, 2025 The Fall Jazz Festival featured HSPVA Jazz Combos … Read More Highlights from Kinder HSPVA Fall & Spring Jazz Festivals
