“Gevgeliski Partizanski Odred 1” 1480 Gevgelija, Republic of Macedonia Phone: +389 (0)34 211 911 E-Mail: fondacija@apollonia.com.mk
PRESS RELEASE
Apollonia Jazz Workshop brings NYC Jazz Improvisation to Students in Skopje th
th
October 18 and 19 , 2014
Contact:: Mr. Aco Ristovski +389 (0)34 211 911 fondacija@apollonia.com.mk
Gevgelija, Macedonia. October 2, 2014 --Jazz is the United States’ first truely indigenous art form. So much so that In 1987 the Joint Houses of Congress passed a resolution declaring jazz an American National Treasure. African Americans devised the major elements of jazz in its formative years and were the primary pioneers of stylistic changes in later decades. As jazz evolved it came to symbolize the cultural struggle of African Americans and then between modernists and traditionalists with the 1920’s period in American history thereafter coined the "Jazz Age." Today, jazz is universal. It is performed, innovated, and listened to by people all over the world from virtually every ethnicity, religion, and culture a reflection of the world becoming smaller and, perhaps, of the planet’s best-intentioned striving to bring its peoples together. In keeping with this, the New York Jazz Workshop Music School, the Apollonia Foundation, the Institute for the Study of European Small States, and the Skopje Jazz Festival are collaborating to bring the American jazz experience to Skopje, Macedonia in the form of a jazz “atelier”, the “Apollonia Jazz Workshop” to be held in the small hall at the Faculty for Music in Skopje, th th Macedonia on October 18 and 19 , 2014. The jazz workshop is the first of a series from the “Apollonia Jazz Project”; a series of events designed to provide firsthand, guided encounters for these groups with the original American art form jazz music. The Initiative is built around the theme of ‘connection through participation. The Apollonia Jazz Workshop is a two-day, participatory “atelier” that offers local communities an opportunity to discover, on a one-on-one basis, a pre-eminent example of the rich and diverse modes of expression that have shaped American culture; the quintessentially American art form of jazz. The Apollonia Jazz Workshop is a joint initiative bringing together Jazz afficianatos and professionals from several locations across the globe. Collaborators in this year’s event are the New York Jazz Workshop Music School in New York, City, the Apollonia Foundation in Gevgelija, the Institute for the Study of European Small States in Monaco, the music high school “Ilija Nikolovski - Luj”, Skopje, the Faculty for music in Skopje, the jazz department at the University “Goce Delcev” in Stip, and the Skopje Jazz Festival. Additionally, the Workshop is fortunate to have the participation of jazz guitarist, composer, and educator, Toni Kitanovski as well as jazz guitarist, singer, and composer Vladimir Cetkar. This year the Apollonia Jazz Project will consist of a two-day seminar, workshop, and performances led by Marc Mommaas of the New York Jazz Workshop (NYJW). The NYJW is a community-based jazz music school located in New York City established by Mr. Mommaas along with jazz entrepreneur Marco Chelo. “Marc and I realized that outside of major universities and conservatories, there were very few opportunities for music lovers to learn with world class instructors, play in a group setting, and enjoy the feeling of being part of a jazz community; The New York Jazz Workshop creates that connection”, says Mr. Chelo.
Mr. Aco Ristovski of the Apollonia Foundation says, “We are very pleased to support an initiate such as this, in particular one that is so focused on the development of the youth of Macedonia and in strengthening our cultural relationship with the United States. Apollonia Foundation hopes to expand our support of the arts through this cultural event.� The Workshop is also partnering with the Skopje Jazz Festival and coincides with the Festivals run from th th October 16 through 19 at various location throughout Skopje. The Skopje Jazz Festival is one of the leading music events in the Republic of Macedonia with a tradition spanning thirty-two years. The Festival, established in 1982, includes performances by top talent in the North American, Latin-American, African, and European jazz scene. The Skopje Jazz Festival is a member of the Europe Jazz Network. The New York Jazz Workshop mission is to create opportunities for musicians of diverse backgrounds and abilities to learn and play jazz and related forms of modern music under the guidance of a world-class faculty. Most of our faculty members are world renown musicians also associated with renowned conservatories and universities such as NYU, New School, Columbia University, Manhattan School Of Music and Julliard. Mr. Mommaas has developed Apollonia Jazz Workshop to introduce interested Macedonian music students and the public to his particular style of American style jazz improvisation and and theory and we provide students with the vocabulary and understanding of jazz music theory that is needed to begin improvising with conviction and musicianship. Students who have little or a great deal of exposure to Jazz history and theory will gain valuable experience playing with the professionals participating in this event. Together they will explore different jazz harmonic, melodic and rhythmic elements through the use of group improvisation and standard melodies and progressions. The Workshop is designed to expose the jazz neophite to the history of jazz, listening, and a joint performance session on day one, advancing to improvisation and advanced theory on day two. The fundamentals of jazz melody, harmony, bass, and rhythm will be explored through an interactive group improvisation via scales, chords, linear and harmonic sequences, song forms, meters, grooves and feels, phrasing, articulation, and much more. Mr. Mommaas believes that becoming a discerning listener and observer as well as participant will facilitate the student’s growth as a jazz musician. The event is free and open to the public. As spaces are limited you are requested to reserve a space by contacting the Apollonia Foundation Gevgelija by telephone at +389 (0)34 211 911 or by email at fondacija@apollonia.com.mk . Spaces are alotted on a first come basis. The Apollonia Foundation is a non-governmental organization that contributes to the advancement of local communities in Gevgelija and across Macedonia in the areas of education, culture, and environmental awareness. Founded in 2007, the Apollonia Foundation continues to support community development in the municipality of Gevgelija, and the Republic of Macedonia begun by the Apollonia Group in 1984. For further information about the Apollonia Foundation, please contact Aco Ristovski, Director at: +389 (0)34 211 911 or by email at fondacija@apollonia.com.mk The New York Jazz Workshop (NYJW) is a community-based jazz music school for students of all ages, located in midtown Manhattan near Times Square. The NYJW mission is to create opportunities for musicians of diverse backgrounds and abilities to learn and play jazz and related forms of modern music under the guidance of a world-class faculty. For further information about the New York Jazz Workshop, please contact Marco Chelo at: +1 917 318-2827 or by email at info@newyorkjazzworkshop.com For more information about the Institute for the Study of European Small States, please contact Dr. Boris Porkovich, Vice President at: +377 (0)640629353 or visit the website at www.isessmonaco.org For information about the the Skopje Jazz Festival, please contact Skopje Jazz Festival at +389 2 31 31 090 or sjf@skopjejazzfest.com.mk. For ticket information visit the website at skopjejazzfest.com.mk.
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