Joint Rose High Jazz Band/ Emerald City Big Band Concert
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 3:14PM April 19, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Ed Wheatley, ewheatley@suddenlink.net, 252-752-5483 (252-916-0013)
Joint Rose High Jazz Band/ Emerald City Big Band Concert
Saturday, May 7, 2011
7:30 p.m.
Rose High Performing Arts Center
A May 7th jazz concert featuring two big bands will raise money for a new “Emerald City Big Band/ECU Friends of Jazz Rose High Scholarship.” The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Rose High graduate who will pursue a music degree at the East Carolina University School of Music.
The Friends of Jazz was co-founded by Public Radio personality Tom “the Jazzman” Mallison and ECU professor emeritus and jazz trumpeter, Ed Wheatley. Mallison is the current Friends of Jazz president. Wheatley is past president and member of the Board. Friends of Jazz members have created several ECU jazz scholarships. Dr. Chris Buddo, Director of the School of Music, says, “We are extremely grateful to the Emerald City Big Band, the Rose High Jazz Band, and to our Friends of Jazz members for coming together to support a scholarship for a deserving Rose High student. We are thrilled about their plans to make this joint concert an annual spring jazz event to follow April’s Billy Taylor Jazz Festival. I invite jazz fans to call us (252-328- 6851) at the School of Music to learn more about becoming a Friends of Jazz member.”
This great evening of jazz begins with the J.H. Rose Jazz Band. Rose High School has long been known for the quality of its music ensembles. Under the direction of Russell Knight, the Rose Jazz Band has matured into one of the most outstanding high school jazz ensembles in the state. Greenville’s swinging Emerald City Big Band is made up of talented and experienced performers. You may have enjoyed their music at the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina, Sunday in the Park, the Greenville Hilton, Swansboro’s JC Ball, the Washington Convention Center, Chowan College, or other venues. Members of the big band take great pride in encouraging young jazz musicians and regularly perform at local elementary and middle schools. The band is under the direction of saxophonist, Danny Wunker. Wunker is an ECU School of Music graduate and the Music Director at Chicod School.
The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the Rose High Performing Arts Center, 600 W. Arlington Blvd. Greenville, NC. Tickets are $10.00 per person and are available at the door.