DuPage youth jazz ensemble to compete at Lincoln Center in New York
This is the fourth time that the ensemble has been chosen for this highly competitive event.
Typically 15 bands are chosen from across the country, but this year, in celebration of the 30th anniversary, 30 bands were selected including three from Australia, Japan and Spain.
'In our third year, in 2001, we went to the Essentially Ellington Festival,' said Director Robert Blazek, who founded the ensemble. The group came in fourth out of the 15 competing bands.
They were also selected for the festival in 2008 and 2024.
There are 25 regular performers in the ensemble and four alternates representing 12 high schools in DuPage County. They are chosen by audition.
In order to become one of the 15 finalists in the Essentially Ellington competition, the bands have to record three pieces from the Essentially Ellington library.
'One piece has to be from a new release this year,' Blazek said.
The Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage submitted recordings of Duke Ellington's 'What am I Here for?' which is the new selection, 'Movin' Uptown' by Benny Carter, and 'Happy Go Lucky Locol' by Ellington.
Blazek cited the benefits the young musicians get from performing in the festival.
'Yes, it's a competition, but the support that all the kids get from one another is astronomical,' he said. 'When you're on stage and you do a great solo, the other students are all going crazy for you. And they network with each other.'
During the festival, Blazek said they will switch out 'What am I Here for?' and replace it with Ellington's 'The Opener.'
Drummer Ryan Weaver, 18, a senior at Oswego High School, participated in last year's festival and said he is looking forward to his second time.
'I started on classical percussion when I was around 6, but I was also taking drum set lessons at 6,' Weaver said. 'I'm mainly sticking to my jazz drum set now.'
He said he joined the Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage because he knew it was made up of all-star musicians.
'I wanted to be immersed in that community so that I could be with other musicians who were better than me so I could become better,' he said.
Weaver called the chance to perform 'a surreal experience.' He also praised the opportunity to connect with musicians from across the country who share his passion for music, and said he remains in touch of some of them.
Weaver said this year he is interested in connecting with musicians from Australia, Japan, and Spain.
'Music is the universal language,' he said, noting he looks forward to 'being able to communicate with each other through the music.'
Weaver plans to pursue jazz studies in college but hasn't yet confirmed what school he will attend.
While Blazek's group is in New York, they will have time to see a production of the musical 'Hadestown' and visit two jazz clubs, Birdland and Dizzy's Club.
The celebration in honor of the band's acceptance at Essentially Ellington will start early with a sendoff concert, featuring guest saxophonist John Wojciechowski, at 4 p.m. on May 4 at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main St., Huntley.
'John's a great saxophonist, he's a high school band director and he does a lot of outside playing at jazz clubs around the city,' Blazek said. 'I think he's going to bring a neat perspective.'
'They could have asked a lot of different musicians to come and be a part of that concert,' Wojciechowski said. 'I'm honored that Rob invited me to come and do that.'
Wojciechowski praised the Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage.
'They're an outstanding group. We're talking about some of the best young musicians in the western suburbs,' he said. 'The fact that they were invited to go to New York to participate in their Ellington Festival speaks volumes because a lot of bands try to do that and very few get invited.'
At the sendoff concert, Wojciechowski will join the band in performing Bill Holman's arrangement of 'Out of Nowhere,' John Coltrane's 'Central Park West,' and an arrangement of Stevie Wonder's 'Overjoyed.'
For more information, go to yjed.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
American haute couture documentary up for accolades
American haute couture documentary short finalist in two film festivals LONG BEACH , CA, UNITED STATES, August 16, 2025 / / -- Monica Lawrence's directoral debut and first offering from her production company Mouse millinery works entertainment llc , ' American haute couture' is now a finalist in two film festivals. East Village New York film fest and AIMAFF. This documentary short about the history of the ribbon skirt native American women make and is a love letter to sewers. It also takes a look at the lack of any national dress in the USA. It's an unwavering look at the prejudice that holds back native American kraftworks from receiving the respect other artists garner. It premiered at the Idaho panhandle film fest and is now up for accolades in two film festivals. This has warmed the heart of the director and Zuni tribal member Monica Lawrence. " I'm so grateful to those that have enjoyed my wee film. I hope it has an impact on those who watch it with an open heart and mind.' Monica Lawrence is the president of her own production company, one of seven native American women owned production companies. She is also a Sagaftra member and has work in background for television and films. This film was made on a modest budget and with the help of her husband Christopher Lawrence camera man, who has since passed away. They bravely fought homelessness due to ageism together. She has kept the flame of this project alive for the both of them. This collaborative project was edited by a Scottish team. They also support her artistic endeavors. To date no native American women has ever won an Oscar for a short documentary. This could be the breakthrough film that ends this. 'American haute couture' is exclusive to Film freeway. Monica Lawrence plans on posting this on social media after it is through the festivals. Monica Lawrence Mouse millinery works entertainment/ +1 562-528-1625 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Made in Hawaii Festival: What you need to know
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Made in Hawaii is back this weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center, and with it will come loads of traffic, on the roads, in the parking lot and even on foot. Here's what Made in Hawaii wants you to know before you hit the road: Salty Wahine Unveils Salt-Free Flavor Innovation at Made in Hawaii Festival Parking will be rough The street parking surrounding the convention center is minimal. So minimal that even the earliest of risers will probably miss out. So Made in Hawaii is recommending to seek alternative options when it comes to parking. 'With the number of vendors, workers, staff, volunteers, you can do the numbers. There's not really going to be access to parking on site,' said Olena Heu, Made in Hawaii Spokesperson. 'So we do recommend that people find parking in other areas.' Even parking nearby will likely be filled up, so it's also recommended to consider other methods of transportation to get to the event. 'Personally I would suggest ridesharing, taxi, getting dropped off, save the hassle,' Heu Moana parking may be risky While an easy alternative could be parking at Ala Moana, Made in Hawaii gently reminds customers it's at their own risk. It is possible to find free parking at the mall, but again, it could be limited. Other areas are paid parking only. 'Of course there are stalls that are only those that are shopping at Ala Moana center,' Heu said. 'So when we say if you're going to park there and come to the festival, you're parking at your own risk.' Kupuna accomadations Made in Hawaii is offering a Kupuna rest area, where Kupuna can sit and relax while their group waits in line. They are then welcome to join the rest of their group once it gets closer to the front of the line. Kupuna who aren't accompanied by younger companions are also invited to skip ahead to the line, so that they don't have to be standing for long periods of time. There will be signs to indicate the Kupuna Rest Area, and is highly encouraged and welcome to all Kupuna. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Navigation will be easier This year, Made in Hawaii is color coding the different lanes, with images on the ground, and with different banners. There will also be a color coded map, aiming to help direct guests to different vendors quicker, which is available online. 'Last year we did welcome over 70,000 people to this event, so as you can imagine it might be quite crowded sometimes shoulder to shoulder,' Heu said. 'Check out the map online. If you didn't already know, come and figure out what vendors you want to visit first and where they are located.' Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here Tickets are available NOW The event is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available online now, and it's highly encouraged to get tickets in advance to keep lines moving efficiently. The line will be adjacent to Atkinson Drive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
A Jerome Robbins Festival: Sparkling, Intimate, Imperfect
In the dance doldrums of August, 'Ballet Festival: Jerome Robbins,' at the Joyce Theater this week, is the hot ticket. Curated by and starring Tiler Peck, the New York City Ballet luminary, it offers a chance to see Peck and some of her world-class peers (from Lincoln Center and across the Atlantic) up close in chamber works by a master choreographer. It has some of the glamour of gala, but with thoughtful choices and a little summer-vacation energy. No wonder it's sold out. Each of the three programs begins with a few duets or solos, largely lesser-known ones, and swells into a small ensemble staple. The music is live, mostly piano. Multiple casts give reasons for repeat visits though also make for an intermittent under-rehearsed quality. The intimacy comes with imperfections. All the works date from Robbins's final three decades, after he moved back to ballet full time from Broadway. His 1969 comeback piece, 'Dances at a Gathering,' is in the lineup in excerpted form, as well as some of the Chopin piano ballets that overflowed from it: 'In the Night' (1970) and 'Other Dances' (1976). What these and the other programmed works share, in varying degrees, is an underplayed modesty, everyday yet elevated, classical yet casual. Robbins was after the feeling of dancers in rehearsal, dancing for themselves. The dancers are people, not abstractions or symbols (as they can be in George Balanchine's ballets), but while these works don't have clear stories, all the roles are characters. Some of the characters are hard to distinguish from the dancers who originated the roles. That's most the case with 'A Suite of Dances,' which Robbins made for Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1994. Set to some of Bach's suites for solo cello, it doesn't just suggest improvised conversation between musician and performer; it suggests a performer thinking. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
