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This item is no longer available. David Sanborn, world-renown jazz saxophonist, began his playing career at the University of Iowa in the early 60s, at a time when there was no jazz program at the UI. And not only was there no jazz program, the music department administration had no interest in creating one. But percussion instructor Tom Davis, along with a group of interested students, including a young Dave Sanborn, didn’t take no for an answer, and created an extra-curricular program. Retired Iowa City middle school director Jerry Zinn played sax next to Sanborn in that very first band, dubbed the UI Jazz Lab Ensemble.

In 2008, when the Iowa River flooded and destroyed Hancher Auditorium and 12 other buildings at the University of Iowa, the loss to the community was far greater than the physical loss of those structures. Hancher Auditorium was one of the most popular venues for touring groups in the region, and the flood forced the student and traveling groups that normally used the venue to move into nearby facilities. But this week, with the grand opening of the new Hancher Auditorium, the University of Iowa and the people of Iowa City once again have a magnetic cultural center to call their own. Looking up at the stunning steel and glass facility, they’ll see that the university has bounced back from the devastating flood. They not only rebuilt and pushed forward, but also thrived in the face of adversity.

It had been eight years since Susan Shullaw, Joy Smith and David Rust saw a show at the old University of Iowa Hancher Auditorium. That’s why they were so eager to see the first show at the new Hancher on Friday night. The Iowa City residents were among the thousands of spectators who took in the concert at the newly opened Hancher in Iowa City, according to Hancher Executive Director Chuck Swanson. The crowd — many in lawn chairs and on blankets strewn on the massive lawn — had gathered to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Trombone Shorty.

The program at Hancher Auditorium was the culmination of the UI’s Week of Inspiration and Harreld’s official welcome as the university’s 21st president. The event was emceed by philosophy professor Richard Fumerton and included remarks from President Emeritus Willard J. “Sandy” Boyd and a keynote address by 'Funmi Olonisakin, professor of security, leadership, and development at King's College London.