7th Annual Emerging Artist Festival takes place Friday November 1st and Saturday, November 2nd in Brattleboro. The event begins on Friday, November 1^st, with youth jazz ensembles performing at 118 Elliot Gallery and continues at the Vermont Jazz Center on Saturday, November 2^nd with student groups starting at 11:00 AM. Student events are open to the public by donation and free to youth attendees.

Each year, the Vermont Jazz Center presents a festival to celebrate the impact of youth in jazz. On November 1^st and 2^nd, those influences will be on full display in their 7^th Annual Emerging Artist Festival where the VJC will present 11 student groups, plus a clinic and concert, with one of today’s most dynamic young singers: Ekep Nkwelle. The public is encouraged to attend and support the presentations of young talent on Friday and Saturday along with Ms. Nkwelle’s headliner concert.

Tickets available: online at www.vtjazz.org, by email at sarah@vtjazz.org, or reservations by phone at 802 254 9088.

Please come and support young musicians; their excitement for performing together is palpable. Students are participating from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Friday – November 1

• 5:15                 Keene State College
• 6:00                 Northfield Mt. Hermon Honors Ensemble
• 6:45                 VJC – Young Lions Trio (Hartmann/Parks/Lazzaro)
• 7:30                 PVPA Jazz, Pop + R&B Ensemble

Saturday – November 2

• 11:00 – 11:30   UMass Jazz Ensemble 1
• 11:45 – 12:15   UMass Jazz Ensemble 2
• 12:30 – 1:00     Northfield Mt. Hermon Jazz Trio
• 1:15 – 1:45       Amherst College – Hypatia Ensemble
• 1:45 – 2:15       VJC Youth Jazz Ensemble
• 2:30 – 3:00       BUHS Madrigals (jazz vocal group)
• 3:15 – 3:45       BUHS Instrumental Jazz Band
• 4:00                  Clinic with Ekep Nkwelle
• 7:30                  Concert with Ekep Nkwelle

  Please note that there may be changes in program order of student groups

Masterclass

Headliner Ekep Nkwelle will present a masterclass with her quartet at 4:00 PM on Saturday followed by a concert with her quartet: Ekep Nkwelle, vocals; Luther Allison, piano; Liany Mateo, bass; Anwar Marshall, drums. The masterclass is for all musicians and community members interested in how a jazz quartet functions, especially with a vocalist as a leader. She will discuss the power of listening and how the interactions of each musician in her quartet affect the overall essence of the performance. These clinics often include the participation of the young area musicians who have just performed.

In-person tickets for the Nov. 2nd featured artist concert are offered on a sliding fee scale from $25 to $60 per person, all seating is general admission. Tickets for participating students are free of charge.

In-person tickets are available online at www.vtjazz.org, by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line at 802-254-9088, ext. 1. Contact Eugene at eugene@vtjazz.org for educational group discounts.

Handicapped access is available. Please call 802-254-9088 ext. 2 and leave a message with your phone number and estimated time of arrival.

Livestream:

The online streaming of Ms. Nkwelle’s concert is open to the public. We ask those tuning in to donate to support the costs of providing world-class music and educational programs at the VJC.

Access to the live stream can be found on our website and our Facebook page.