Once again this year, the Beloit International Film Festival will bring great musical talent to Beloit audiences as part of the ten-day BIFF2019, Feb. 22-March 3.

Kicking off this year’s festivities will be Beloit native and one of the world’s leading jazz trumpet virtuosos, Tony Scodwell. This year he will get things rolling with a two-hour set on opening night Feb. 22 at Suds O’Hanahan’s Irish Pub, 435 E Grand Ave in Beloit, starting at 7 p.m. He will be backed up by the celebrated Highland Community College Big Band from Freeport, Ill.Special Guests will include another Beloit trumpet virtuoso, John Meyers, as well as BIFF Artistic Director Greg Gerard and the Beloit College Jazz Band.

Scodwell, a formidable veteran of the Big Band music scene, returns to Beloit to recreate some of the great standards. Creator of fine trumpets used worldwide, he has played with legendary stars crossing five decades, from Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett, to Elvis Presley, Diana Ross and Barbara Streisand.

And to keep the musical ball rolling, the following night, Feb. 23, Grammy nominated American singer-songwriter and award-winning filmmaker, Linda Chorney will perform at The Beloit Club. Her 90-minute set at 6:30 will be preceded by a buffet dinner and cocktail hour starting at 5 p.m.

Chorney, made history as the first independent artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album in 2012, via social media. She is the poster child for independent artists, doing it her way. In 2018, Chorney released her life’s story, When I Sing, which she wrote, produced, and stars in. It has won critical acclaim on the film festival circuit and will be shown several times at this year’s BIFF. Her album, Emotional Jukebox is one of five nominated for the 2012 Grammy Award in the category of Best Americana Album. In 2016, she produced her first documentary The Opening Act, which garnered two Best Documentary awards.

Scodwell’s performance is free and open to the public. Tickets for Chorney’s performance are $25.00 and available at the Beloit Club, 2327 S Riverside Dr, Beloit, WI, (608) 364-9000.

The Beloit International Film Festival this year marks its 14th season as the region’s major international cultural event. BIFF is sponsored by the Hendricks Family Foundation and Visit Beloit in association with Beloit College. Support for the Festival comes from area businesses and civic organizations, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Critical individual support for BIFF is provided through gifts and membership in the BIFF Founders and the Film Society of Beloit.