2023 SHOWCASE – YouthJazz.us

“KANSAS CITY AREA
YOUTH JAZZ SUMMER SHOWCASE”
A summertime concert event.
YOUTHJAZZ.US

IT WAS GREAT!

VIDEO is a YouTube playlist that includes a musical excerpt of The Watson Ensemble concert set as a snapshot of the 2023 event.

2023 SHOWCASE DETAILS

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023 AT 7:00PM

The 2023 SUMMER SHOWCASE features many of our top young jazz musicians performing on Saturday, July 15 in the Ruby Room of Music Theater Heritage at Crown Center in Kansas City. Emcee will introduce each performance. A great concert showcase event of jazz music.

“We hope that this opportunity will encourage everyone involved,” says Christopher Burnett, Founder and Artistic Director of Kansas City Area Youth Jazz. “It’s not only a unique artistic and music industry educational experience for our youngest generation in jazz, but also an opportunity for the programs to further network as well.”

More than 50 next generation jazz artists representing three of our top private jazz education programs based throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area will each play concert sets in a collective concert forum that is essentially an artistic gathering among peers.

Greg Carroll of Midnight Blue Jazz LLC, an ensemble clinician who is also the development counsel for YOUTHJAZZ.US said “Aside from the fantastic networking and shared artistic experiences, this Kansas City Youth Jazz Showcase offers audiences, donors, and corporate sponsors the opportunity to hear and support these tremendous student musicians and the work of their organizations!”

Participating organizations in 2023 include 5 Star Jazz Band, Live Jazz KC High School All-Star Big Band, and Kansas City Area Youth Jazz.

Don’t miss this event! These young artists represent some of our area’s best of their generation in jazz. Event proceeds support all of the participating programs.

Hosted and Produced by YOUTHJAZZ.US

FEATURING ENSEMBLES FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

5 STAR JAZZ BAND

The 5 Star Jazz Band is an all-volunteer educational nonprofit 501(c)3 dedicated to keeping alive Kansas City’s music legacy in Big Band, Swing and Jazz among young musicians through live performance and community service.

Membership in 5 Star Jazz Band is a commitment for serious student musicians eager to advance their musicianship and to perform at some of the most exciting venues in the Midwest.

5 Star is led by Bob Drummond, an award-winning band director with 45 years’ experience as a music educator. Members receive advanced performance-based training (instrumental and vocal) in a 30-piece Big Band and an 8-piece combo.

LIVEJAZZKC.COM HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BIG BAND

The Live Jazz KC High School All-Star Big Band was founded and is directed by Herschel McWilliams, a local professional jazz musicians who is also a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area, entrepreneur, and the son of musician parents. He selects the ensemble repertoire that includes his own original compositions and arrangements.

Woodwind artist, Tate Berry serves as assistant director. And although it is a relatively new organization, the High School All-Stars have already performed at myriad events and festivals in the region. This organization attracts top high school jazz musicians from KC metro area schools in both Missouri and Kansas, performs challenging literature, and is planning to record an album this year. The students also perform in configurations as both a standard big band as well as smaller combination groups for most any occasion.

KANSAS CITY AREA YOUTH JAZZ

Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Ensembles are named for several of our contemporary music icons whose significant contributions to the field of Jazz music have encompassed the technical areas of performance, recording, composition, and music education.

Youth Jazz Fellows … play original compositions and iconic selections from the jazz music canon, get paid for live concerts, and release professional studio recordings each season.

2023 Season Program Facts:

Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Fellowships are open to both high school and college age students.
The 2020 Season was also the last season of high school-only musicians being accepted in the program.
Our initial goal upon founding in 2019 was to provide the program for two years to high school musicians.
And if it was appreciated and of continued interest, we would expand to include college musicians in the 2021 Season.
The 2023 Season is our 5th. Also see discography.
And we are pleased to announce the addition of a brand new vocal jazz ensemble in 2023.
Take a look around our website.
Get involve and support the next generation!

NOTE: KCAYJ Ensemble tribute names are used with expressed permission. Jazz Clinicians directing during the 2023 Season are Christopher Burnett, WM Thornton, David Cunningham, Greg Carroll, and Houston Smith.

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