Emorys Annual Jazz Festival has played to capacity crowds
in recent years with its guest artists on Friday night and traditional
Big Band Night on Saturday. This years festival
will be held in the Performing Arts Studio, Feb. 12 at 8:15
p.m.
The two-day festival is organized by Scott Stewart, director of
instrumental music for Emory. The Jazz Festival is a rare
and intimate opportunity in our city to experience the convergence
of nationally known artists, jazz scholars from Emory and beyond,
and Atlantas loyal jazz audiences, Stewart said. This
community-oriented festival also helps to build awareness of Emorys
own jazz curriculum and ensembles.
Joined by an Atlanta-based favorite, The Gary Motley Trio, acclaimed
guest artists Sara and Rachel Caswell will share their jazz violin
and vocal talents on the first night of the festival.
Sara Caswell is a graduate of Indiana University, where she received
a bachelors degree with a double major in violin performance
and jazz studies. She has worked with many top artists at the Thelonious
Monk Institute of Jazz Summer Residency in Aspen, Colo., and the
Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Jazz Festival
in Chicago. She was a featured soloist at the Sarasota Jazz Festival
and a guest artist alongside Skitch Henderson and The New York Pops
Allstars in New Yorks Carnegie Hall. She has won more than
100 music awards, scholarships and competitions.
Rachel Caswell is an award-winning jazz vocalist with an unusual
style combining extraordinary scatting ability and sensitive song
interpretation. She has performed with the Billy Taylor Trio and
Curtis Fuller and was selected as one of two vocalists for the 1997
Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz Colony at Jazz in Aspen. She has
degrees in classical cello and jazz studies from Indiana University
and a master of music degree in jazz studies from New England Conservatory
of Music.
On Saturday, Feb. 2, the annual Big Band Night, Emorys
Jazz Combo will be directed by Gary Motley. Motley is a jazz improvisation
lecturer for Emory with an active performance career. Emorys
combo will be followed by Alabamas Jacksonville State University
Jazz Ensemble, directed by Brian Bankson, and Georgia State Universitys
Jazz Ensemble, directed by Gordon Vernick. Jacksonville State is
returning to the festival for its second year.
Tickets for the festival are $10 for Friday and $4 for Saturday.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended, as seating is limited. For
tickets, call the Arts at Emory box office at 404-727-5050 or visit
www.emory.edu/ARTS.
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