Music - Jazz in March Series
with host Keigo Hirakawa
Jazz In March
This annual series is hosted by Keigo Hirakawa in March. Mr. Hirakawa is a well respected improvisational pianist in his own right. Each year he selects the group for the series and will conduct a short interview with the guest artist at the top of the evening. This series is free to the public and no reservations are necessary. Seating is first come-first served.

Jazz in March: Premazzi / Nasser Quartet
Saturday, March 28, 2026 • 7:00 PM
Hayner East Room, Troy, Ohio — Free Admission | First-come, first-served

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center invites jazz enthusiasts and curious listeners alike to experience Jazz in March 2026, a one-night concert event hosted by pianist and educator Keigo Hirakawa. This year’s featured performers are the acclaimed Premazzi / Nasser Quartet, delivering a captivating blend of modern melodic jazz infused with classical harmonies.
About the Artists
Simona Premazzi & Kyle Nasser
Italian-born pianist Simona Premazzi and Boston-native saxophonist Kyle Nasser have joined forces in a decade-long musical partnership. Their quartet, rounded out by bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Jay Sawyer, weaves together lush melodies, sophisticated harmonies, and exploratory improvisation drawn from both jazz and classical influences.
“A fearless modernist composer and improviser with a deep lyricism at her core…” — Hot House Magazine
“Cycling rhythms … propel the saxophonist’s music … cerebral without being pretentious…” — DownBeat
Catch more from the quartet on their official site: Simona Premazzi and Kyle Nasser. You can also follow Simona on Instagram @s1m00pr
for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Their debut recording From What I Recall has received international recognition for its lyrical depth and modernist style. You can read the full jazz album review on Paris Move.

Evening Schedule
- 7:00 PM – Artist interview with Kyle Nasser
- 7:30 PM – Concert performance
- Venue – Hayner East Room
Seating is general admission, and there are no reservation requirements. The event is free of charge, made possible through the generous support of Troy citizens, Friends of Hayner, and community sponsors.
Experience the Music
Jazz in March is part of Hayner’s mission to bring world-class music experiences to Troy. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz fan or simply curious about a live concert in an intimate setting, this performance offers something for everyone.
- Perfect for music lovers seeking unique, meaningful live performance
- Great local arts offering for the Troy / Miami Valley region
- An opportunity to experience deeply melodic, modern jazz in a welcoming environment

About the Host – Keigo Hirakawa
Keigo Hirakawa is an accomplished pianist, educator, and passionate advocate for jazz, known for his ability to connect audiences with both emerging and established artists. As host of Jazz in March, Hirakawa brings his deep knowledge of jazz history and performance to every event, providing context, insight, and engaging commentary that enriches the concert experience.
His thoughtful introductions and interactions help audiences of all experience levels appreciate the nuances of modern jazz, making each performance at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center memorable and accessible.
Would you like to be notified about our jazz concerts? Just fill out the form below to be on our Jazz email list.

Jazz in March Concert with Stacy Dillard, saxophone
Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7:oo pm
Special thanks to photographer Dan Drodge

















Online March 13, 2021
Jazz in March Concert - Recorded Concert
with the Brandon Scott Coleman Quartet
Hayner’s, “Jazz in March” concert is an annual series that celebrates Jazz. The 2021 concert will feature a group of young Cincinnati artists. The Brandon Coleman Quartet features Brandon Coleman on guitar, Ben Tweedt on piano, Jeff Mellott, percussion and Matt Wiles on bass. These young men have an impressive influence in our area. They are active performers, composers and educators.
Brandon Scott Coleman’s unique guitar voice may have grown from the study of his three biggest influences, Jimi Hendrix, Chet Adkins and Frank Zappa. Though they represent a wide variety of styles the three intersect in terms of creativity and initiative. Coleman studied music at Morehead State University and received his master’s degree from the University of Louisville. He is a composer and an arranger, and has performed across the country with his groups, Fourth Kind, Spherical Agenda and the Brandon Scott Coleman Quartet.
Ben Tweedt is a pianist, composer, arranger and educator who began his training at a young age. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 17. He completed his master’s degree here in Ohio at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. In addition to teaching music, he also performs with Spherical Agenda, and The Original Farm League Big Band, the Blue Wisp Big Band, the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and the New Studio Big Band. In 2014 Ben was the winner of the Nebraska Young Jazz Artist competition and in 2019 the American Jazz Pianist Competition.
Jeff Mellott is a fixture of the Cincinnati music scene and incidentally, had performed at the Hayner in 2019 with the Keigo Hirakawa Trio. He is a wildly creative composer who has received national attention through National Public Radio. Jeff completed his undergrad work at The Ohio State University and received his master’s degree in in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati, The College Conservatory of Music.
Matt Wiles received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and is a bass instructor at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center in Wyoming, Ohio. He performs with Spherical Agenda, the Brandon Colman Quartet and has performed with many jazz greats such as Snarky Horns, Gary Versace, Colin Stranahan, Noah Preminger, Fareed Haque, Peter Mazza, Glenn Zaleski, Victor Provost, Bobby Selvaggio and Sam Blakeslee.
The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center is proudly supported by the citizens of the Troy City School District through a local tax levy and generous gifts to the Friends of Hayner. Please consider lending your support in favor of the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center renewal levy on May 4, 2021.

March 21, 2020
Jazz in March Concert - Recorded Concert
with the Keigo Hirakawa Trio
Keigo is the host of our series and an improvisational pianist in his own right.
In this trio is Keigo Hirakawa on piano, Eddie Brookshire on stand-up bass and Reggie Jackson on drums.