'A Night of Jazz' Benefit Concert

A press release from Jazz Elite:

 "A Night of Jazz" expected to attract large crowd; Program helps young adults pursue their passion for music

Area businesses and members of the local community looking for ways to support talented, young adults will have the chance to do so next month when Jazz Elite performs in Westchester County, New York.

Jazz Elite, a group of young, advanced-level musicians from the Tri-State area, will host "A Night of Jazz" on March 5 at Union Baptist Church in Greenburgh. The event will help raise money for the group's members to attend an upcoming jazz competition in California. Artistic director, Iantheia Calhoun, who is also a music teacher at Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, New York, will conduct the performance.

"We are excited about this concert! We want to show metropolitan-area parents that they don't have to send their children all the way to New York City for a quality music program," Calhoun said. "Those who attend will have the great opportunity to see the high level of talent in our young musicians, who practice right here in Westchester."

Founded in 2003, Jazz Elite is a sponsored program by Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Funds donated by businesses, other organizations and private citizens – which are encouraged – are helpful in keeping the program afloat and allow students to attend various music festivals throughout the year. With additional funding, Calhoun hopes to expand the program for students so they are able to participate in more events and receive private music lessons.

As part of an annual tuition program, students take part in weekly rehearsals at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh, New York and participate in jazz clinics with music professionals, such as jazz legend Jon Faddis; hard bop jazz trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater; Ron Carter, professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU); and saxophonist Tia Fuller, who plays in R&B singer Beyonce's all female band.

Students audition in September at an assigned location in Westchester County for a seat in Jazz Elite. The program is designed to help students develop their aural, sight-reading, improvisational, and Big Band ensemble playing skills throughout the year.

Prior to forming Jazz Elite, Calhoun organized a Jazz Ensemble at Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, New York. Those students performed at the Greenwich Festival in Connecticut and Sleepy Hollow Festival in New York, as well as the prestigious Next Generation Festival in California, which the young musicians of Jazz Elite plan to attend this April. Proceeds from the benefit concert will assist in that effort.

"Jazz, to me and to these students, is something special," Calhoun said. "With jazz, you really have to think; you're expanding your mind. You have to look at the chords, and understand how to solo over those changes. Then, you have to communicate it to your audience and move them through your expression. Jazz is on such a grand level of understanding and expression. I'm proud to expose our children to wonderful pieces of work in the jazz music genre.”

Currently, Jazz Elite – an ethnically diverse group of 7th to 12th graders – has eight woodwind section players, five trombone players, six trumpet players and eight members in the rhythm section. The program is always looking to bring in additional talent, according to Calhoun.

"A Night of Jazz" will take place on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium of Union Baptist Church, located at 31 Manhattan Avenue in Greenburgh. Admission to the event is $35 for adults, $25 for senior citizens, $10 for students and free for children 12 and under. For more information about the event or to make a donation to Jazz Elite, contact Artistic Director Iantheia Calhoun at 914-462-2669 or mscjazz@mac.com.

About Jazz Elite

Jazz Elite is an extended, conglomerate middle school and high school jazz program in Westchester County, New York. The group’s College Conglomerate Division is set to launch next season. Conductor and artistic director, Iantheia Calhoun founded Jazz Elite in 2003 at the Theodore D. Young Community Center to provide advanced-level training for young thriving jazz musicians. The program is designed to challenge student's aural, sight-reading, and improvisational skills, while providing a relaxing, and fun learning environment. Jazz Elite, is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions on behalf of Jazz Elite may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. For more information, visit www.jazzelite.org.