Ensemble founder and director predicts seats will go fast at the Jazz Ensemble concert Thursday in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom.

“The NIU Jazz Ensemble is a very exciting group. They usually play for groups of over 2,000 people,” said Music School Chairman Donald Funes.

The free program, which is set to begin at 8 p.m., “will be very entertaining,” he said.

For the first time in 21 years, Jazz Ensemble founder and director Ron Modell will not conduct due to illness. Instead, Jazz Lab Band director Antonio Garcia and will conduct the band.

Modell said, people should “come early for a good seat.”

The concert will also feature guest saxophonist Chris Vadala. Vadala, who has worked with Chuck Mangione, will join the 20-member band after intermission to perform works by Mangione.