District 64 Jazz Festival Rescheduled to May 8; Arts Grant Brings Jazz Community Big Band to Perform with Students

 The District 64 Jazz Festival will now be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Emerson Middle School (multipurpose room), 8101 N. Cumberland, Niles.   The event was rescheduled due to an April storm-related school closing.

The Jazz Community Big Band from Chicago will join jazz bands from Emerson and Lincoln middle schools in District 64 along with the Maine South High School Jazz Band as originally planned in a workshop/performance format, thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Park Ridge Cultural Arts Council and the Illinois Arts Council, according to District 64 Music Curriculum Specialist Brian Jacobi, who won the grant.

“Tremendous learning and excitement takes place when student musicians have the opportunity to perform with professionals,” Jacobi said.

During the workshop segment, the Big Band musicians will play along with students.  “Teachers will use the professional band as a teaching and demonstration resource to help students realize the full potential of the music,” he added.

The Big Band also will play its own featured selections during the concern portion, as will the three student jazz groups.

This year’s workshop/performance festival is similar to experiences provided in recent years for band students with the Northshore Concert Band and for orchestra students by rock violinist Mark Wood, former lead violinist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jacobi noted.

The Park Ridge Cultural Arts Council is providing the grant through its Arts and Education Program.  The Council receives funding through the Illinois Arts Council.