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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sarah Maiellano, Philly POPS – 215-546-3234, cell: 202-550-9913, smaiellano@phillypops.org
Leslie Tyler, 215-790-7173, LTyler@kimmelcenter.org
PHILLY POPS AND KIMMEL CENTER TO PRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA’S ALL-CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL
FREE ALL-DAY JAZZ FESTIVAL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL FEATURE LOCAL STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL JAZZ MUSICIANS
Tweet: Free All-City Jazz Festival on June 9 at @kimmelcenter featuring @PHLschools @PhillyMusicEd students. Presented by @ThePhillyPOPS and #KimmelCenter
Images: Download high-res photos (credit: Bachrach Photo)
Philadelphia, PA (March 28, 2017) — The Philly POPS and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will present the School District of Philadelphia’s All-City Jazz Festival, a free day-long music event, on June 9.
This will be the POPS’s third year presenting this event, which now benefits greatly from the new partnership with the Kimmel Center. The day of free jazz performances by student and professional musicians will be held in the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater and Commonwealth Plaza from 11AM-9pm. This year’s program builds on the All-City Jazz showcase format, which had previously been the extent of the event.
The festival has been reconfigured to include a variety of student jazz programs, from both POPS in Schools and the Kimmel Center’s Creative Music for Jazz Program, as well as other Philadelphia programs, playing throughout the day. Professional POPS musicians will accompany students in the music-making.
“The Philly POPS' three year-old POPS in Schools program and Kimmel Center Education share a mission of educating and inspiring young Philadelphians,” said Frank Giordano, President and CEO of the Philly POPS. “After presenting the School District of Philadelphia’s All-City Jazz Festival for two years, the POPS has now partnered with the Kimmel Center, the city’s premier performing arts venue to provide an enhanced experience for students, parents and audiences. As the home of the Philly POPS, we can’t think of a better organization and venue to join forces with for this special event.”
“We are delighted to partner with our esteemed Resident Company, the Philly POPS, to present the 2017 All-City Jazz Festival to Philadelphia,” said Anne Ewers, President & CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “With ten education programs for all ages, our year round mission is to transform lives daily through the arts. This Festival is an additional opportunity for the Kimmel Center to unite as a Campus to reach, educate, and inspire future generations of arts lovers.”
Students, parents, and the public will be invited to attend the day and evening performances. This is a free, ticketed event. Tickets can be reserved at the Kimmel Center Box Office or at kimmelcenter.org.
Performance Schedule:
11am and 12:30pm, Perelman Theater
Jazz student showcase performances
2-6pm, Commonwealth Plaza Stage
A variety of lobby performances by local student jazz groups including high schools and universities
Times TBD, Merck Education Center
Master class sessions in Jazz education led by leading Jazz artists/professionals
7-9pm, Perelman Theater
All-City Jazz Showcase
The most accomplished bands from the All-City Jazz program schools perform. Plus, a performance by the audition-only All-City Jazz Orchestra, the School District of Philadelphia honor ensemble attracting the most talented jazz students from high schools all across the District, conducted by Terell Stafford.
Leading up to the festival,POPS in Schools has a full slate of engagement activities planned for the School District of Philadelphia’s jazz program and All-City Jazz Orchestra:
- POPS musicians will lead masterclasses throughout the spring for each of the 10 Philadelphia public high schools in the jazz program.
- Byron Stripling, POPS guest artist and nationally-recognized superstar trumpeter, will lead a workshop with the All-City Jazz Orchestra on March 29.
- The All-City Jazz Orchestra Combo, all members of the All City Jazz Orchestra, will perform on the Kimmel Center’s Plaza Stage prior to all three Philly POPS Ella, Louis & All That Jazz concerts, on March 31, April 1 and 2.
- The Combo will perform on International Jazz Day weekend (April 28 at noon) at New York City’s Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center as part of the Young Music Makers series.
The All-City Jazz Festival is made possible through the generous support of Philadelphia Energy Solutions.
About POPS in Schools
In a school system that has seen cutbacks in arts programs over the past decade, POPS in Schools provides customized programs, music training and education, performance opportunities, and access to experience professional concerts throughout Philadelphia.
Launched in 2015, POPS in Schools is an EITC-certified program that enhances music education for approximately 1,000 students in the School District of Philadelphia by embedding Philly POPS artists in schools to coach and mentor music students in three elementary and ten high schools: Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary, Isaac Sheppard, Bache-Martin, Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Central High School, Franklin Learning Center, High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Hill-Freedman World Academy, Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP), Julia R. Masterman High School, George Washington Carver Engineering and Sciences High, George Washington High School, and Northeast High School.
POPS in Schools is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Chase and Susan McDaniel, Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Wells Fargo, Pam and Tim Alles, M&T Bank, PECO and others.
About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.
Now in its 38th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 100,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today’s chart toppers.
Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances – including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I’ll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders – celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.
The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
About Kimmel Center Education
In an effort to cultivate the next generation of theater-goers and arts lovers, the Kimmel Center continues to expand its robust set of education offerings for families, students, teachers, and aspiring artists. With ten full education programs, the Kimmel Center reaches students of all ages and skill levels, stimulating students’ artistic expression and thought through multidisciplinary experiences. Whether toddlers or teenagers, musical mavericks or the newest newbies—the programs educate, engage, and inspire the next generation!
Kimmel Center Education offerings include:
- FREE performing arts classes for grades 5-12
- Jazz Camp of Philadelphia, allowing young jazz talents to gain invaluable experience with technique, repertoire, and live performance
- The Business of Making Music, a panelist series focused on engaging professionally-oriented students and graduates interested in pursuing a career in the music business
- Student matinees offer opportunities to attend shows supplemented by curriculum materials
- Creative Music Program for Jazz is a FREE school-year program allowing students to learn through master classes, rehearsals and performances
- ShowStoppers is a FREE after-school musical theater program with instruction in theater art, vocal, and dance technique taught by professionally-acclaimed teaching artists
- Broadway Dreams Foundation Summer Intensive features personal instruction from Broadway performers and industry professionals on acting, vocal technique, song selection, dance, business, and more
New this season are two new music technology courses for aspiring digital music professionals, as well as a three-year Jazz Standards curriculum featuring a comprehensive exploration of jazz by students and professionals. All of these programs contribute to the Kimmel Center’s mission to transform lives daily through the arts!
About The Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center Campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2016-2017 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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