For the fifth year The NC Jazz Festival worked with New Hanover County Schools to bring jazz to enthusiastic students. Roland Grise Middle School once again was chosen to host a concert and workshop with the 2011 Allstar Musicians; Jonathan Russell, Herman Burney, Bob Alberti and Ed Polcer on Friday February 18th.
Later in the afternoon, Jonathan and Bucky Pizzarelli gave a jazz string clinic for some of our local violin and guitar students and Bria Skonberg presented a similar sesssion to some trumpet students. The Wilmington Hilton graciously provided the space for both of these events.
During the 2012 NCJF weekend we plan to continue our practice of bringing some of our all-star musicians to the middle school for a concert/workshop on Friday morning.
Later that afternoon Bucky Pizzarelli will conduct a guitar workshop for local guitar students and Bria Skonberg will again conduct a workshop for young trumpet students from the local high schools. This will again take place in the Bellamy Room of the Wilmington Hilton Riverside.
Testimonials:
The free Jazz workshop with Jonathan and Bucky was totally awesome! I had no idea that I would like Jazz so much! It was so exciting to be able to sit and play with them for a whole hour. Now every time I hear a jazz song, I hear it differently, and I want to learn more.
Jenna – age 11
As a parent, we can tempt our children to try new things, but there is no substitute for getting them “jazzed” about something new, then having someone who is passionate about what they do, introduce it. My daughter has been exposed to jazz for her entire life, but it wasn’t until she had the opportunity to sit in a circle with Bucky and Jonathan and listen and play with them, did she hear it and begin to embrace Jazz. I will be eternally grateful to these talented and generous artists for introducing my child to a new world of music. They did in 60 minutes what’s taken me 12 years to try to do. Thank you!
Tina, mother of violinist
“I enjoyed meeting Bucky Pizzarelli. He is a jazz guitar icon and I feel lucky to have played with him.”
Travis Tabor – 17
