Tuesday, May 20 in NEC’s Jordan Hall

New England Conservatory Prep presents the NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra conducted by Ken Schaphorst in a concert featuring a wide selection of music by composers Randy Weston, Ken Schaphorst, Donny McCaslin, Thad Jones, Dizzy Gillespie and more, all performed by middle and high school students in the NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra. The free concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at NEC’s Jordan Hall, 290 Huntington Avenue, Boston. For more information, log on to http://necmusic.edu/nec-youth-jazz-orchestra-schaphorst or call 617-585-1260.

The evening’s repertoire includes Ken Schaphorst’s Blink;
Tony Williams’ Sister Cheryl arranged by the Youth Jazz Orchestra; Randy Weston’s Sweet Meat; Donny McCaslin’s Second Line Sally arranged by Ken Schaphorst; Down by the Riverside
a traditional piece arranged by Oliver Nelson; Thad Jones’ Three and One;
Dizzy Gillespie’s Con Alma, arranged by Ken Schaphorst; Quincy Jones’ Quintessence;
and Tito Puente’s Oye Como Va.

Founded in 2008 by NEC Jazz Studies Department chair Ken Schaphorst, the NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra is the only community jazz orchestra of its kind in the Boston area, open by audition to all musicians high school age or younger. The ensemble strives to give young musicians opportunities to learn and perform together in an environment of high expectations and standards.

The NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra includes Eamon Sheil
on alto and soprano saxophones, Kira Daglio Fine
on alto saxophone, Josh Noel and Ryan MacLean on tenor saxophones,
Grace-Mary Burega on baritone saxophone, Hyun Shin,
Samuel Atallah,
Diego Opperman and
Nate Williams on trumpets, William Hess,
Gibson Leavitt,
Michael Sabin and
Harrison Miller on trombones, Noah Landis on piano,
Richard Oates on guitar,
Noah Harrington on bass
and Noah Klavens on drums.

NEC’s Jazz Studies Department was the first fully accredited jazz studies program at a music conservatory. The brainchild of Gunther Schuller, who moved quickly to incorporate jazz into the curriculum when he became President of the Conservatory in 1967, the Jazz Studies faculty has included six MacArthur “genius” grant recipients (three currently teaching) and four NEA Jazz Masters, and alumni that reads like a who’s who of jazz. Now in its 44th year, the program has spawned numerous Grammy winning composers and performers. As Mike West writes in JazzTimes: “NEC’s jazz studies department is among the most acclaimed and successful in the world; so says the roster of visionary artists that have comprised both its faculty and alumni.” The program currently has 114 students; 67 undergraduate and 47 graduate students from 12 countries.

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