Second Annual Jazz Celebration At Metro State Set For April 10-12

An expected 1,500 jazz, choral and instrumental students from 65 middle and high schools across the state will join five major jazz artists in descending upon the Auraria campus for the 2003 Jazz Celebration at Metro State April 10-12.

Sponsored by Metro State, the celebration will focus on music education, featuring guest artists who will share their expertise with students and teachers through concerts, master classes, jazz history classes and clinics. Five major artists will perform: Latin percussionist/composer Victor Mendoza, trumpeter Bobby Shew, saxophonist Lee Konitz, vocalist Sunny Wilkinson, and the West Point Jazz Knights Jazz Ensemble, including 1977 Metro State music graduate Louis Pappas on string bass. In addition to visiting artists, the Faculty Jazz Sextet will perform on Thursday, April 10, during the opening concert.

World-renowned artist and Metro State graduate Malcolm Farley will paint alongside each jazz performer. Instead of in-studio creations, Farley prefers to create art in "live-event" fashion while hundreds, even thousands, look on.

"Our goal is to help young people gain a better understanding of our musical heritage and to nurture musical growth in the youth of Colorado," says music Professor Walter Barr, coordinator of the celebration. "This unique festival of jazz brings education, the community, professional musicians and international artists together to celebrate and learn more about America's classical music."

Sponsors of the events include the Mayor's Office of the Arts, Culture and Film, the Musicians Performance Trust Fund, Dazzle jazz club and Starbucks.

For more information about the celebration, go to: http://www.aurariajazzcelebration.com/.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 303-556-2296, or at http://www.kennethkingcenter.org/.