The Nicholls Foundation will host George Bell and Friends for a jazz concert on Sunday, Nov. 2 to benefit the Mary M. Danos Theater and a student scholarship.

It is fitting that this concert takes place during Homecoming weekend, since it will be a Homecoming for renowned trumpet player and Nicholls alumnus George Bell, remarked David Boudreaux, former director of the Nicholls Foundation.

Bell had wanted to return to Nicholls to give a benefit performance for the community for some time, and earlier this summer, the plans were made.

“He wanted to come back to Thibodaux, and he wanted to do it as a fundraiser for his alma mater. How could we say no?” Boudreaux said.

Bell found his love of music when he learned to play the trumpet in the fifth grade.

“He was the quarterback at Thibodaux High. As the whole team would head to the locker room, George Bell would head for the band, pick up his trumpet and would perform with the band at half time,” Boudreaux said.

Bell, who is a 1981 Hall of Fame political science graduate, currently works at Baton Rouge General Medical Hospital as a top administrator, and plays music on the side.

He has worked to bring together his career and his hobby with the Arts in Medicine program at the hospital, as well as by holding concerts for patients during the holidays.

“Baton Rouge General is the first hospital in the region to bring an innovative Arts in Medicine program to our community of patients and families,” Bell stated in an interview with DIG Baton Rouge magazine.

Bell has been working with a collection of talented performers for the past few years through “George Bell and Friends” performances at the Baton Rouge Manship Theater to benefit the Baton Rouge General Foundation.

“The performances have all been so well received by the entire Baton Rouge community, that Manship continues to invite George Bell and Friends back,” Boudreaux said.

The concert at Nicholls will feature world-class musicians such as Herman Jackson, Harry Anderson, Todd Duke, Greg Ward, Aaron Fletcher, Betsy Braud, Kandace Washington and Thaddeus Richard.

“You can see what a distinguished group of musicians George has assembled,” Boudreaux said. “These people are just truly outstanding.”

“It just so happens that Thaddeus Richard is also a Thibodaux native,” Boudreaux said.

Richard has performed with many popular artists like Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, and has even appeared on the HBO series “Treme”.

According to Boudreaux, Bell is also rumored to invite a few local musicians on stage to perform as well.

“We think it’s going to be an absolutely fabulous show, and we hope to come close to selling it out,” Boudreaux said.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling the Nicholls Foundation office.