Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble Makes Season Debut Friday, December 19
Wednesday, December 17, 2003


Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble
Forty-seven young musicians from public, private and parochial schools throughout the Greater Philadelphia area have been selected as members of the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble, the first regional ensemble specializing in jazz and comprised primarily of middle school students. The ensemble has been practicing since October and will give its debut performance at in the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza Friday night, December 19 at 6pm.

This year’s ensemble includes 24 new members and 23 returning from last year’s inaugural ensemble. Students hail from 10 different schools in Philadelphia, 14 schools in the Pennsylvania suburbs and eight schools in South Jersey. All students were selected through competitive auditions.

The ensemble performs under the direction of Kimmel Center Teaching Artist Marc Johnson, a jazz pianist and trombonist who has played in the U.S. and abroad with jazz luminaries such as JJ Johnson, Slide Hampton, Al Grey, Clarke Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Heath and Phil Woods as well as vocalists Lena Horne, Lou Rawls and Dianne Shurr.

The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble kicks off a stellar evening of jazz at the Kimmel Center. Jazz greats Nancy Wilson and Ramsey Lewis perform in Verizon Hall at 8pm.

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