Northwest Arkansas Jazz All-Stars Learning through the arts at Walton Arts Center
Jazz is considered by many to be the only truly American art form, yet its imprint on American culture often goes unrecognized. Through a partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society, Walton Arts Center is working to advance the creative spirit and appreciation of Jazz Arts — especially with young musicians — through engagement, education and performance. Walton Arts Center’s first Jazz All-Stars began swinging in January 2017. Eighteen students from eight high schools dedicated three months of Sunday afternoons to rehearse with some of Northwest Arkansas’ finest jazz men and women from the Fayetteville Jazz Collective. Chosen by audition, the All-Stars learned jazz techniques, jazz styling, music theory, improvisation and skills on their instruments leading up to public performances and a professional recording session. As the program begins a second year, high school students are offered the chance to join this music community of like-minded, passionate young musicians at a pivotal point in their personal and artistic development. Walton Arts Center’s goal is to share this uniquely American art form and to raise the level of musicianship for each All-Star. Auditions are planned for January 2018. Instrumentation for the All-Stars includes saxophone (alto, tenor, baritone), trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass and drums.
“ When kids realize that
jazz is part of the DNA of today’s music styles, they deeply understand how the past is connected to the present. The doors swing wide to a new
”
musical universe.
- Robert Ginsburg, Jazz Curator at Walton Arts Center
For information, visit the Jazz Education page on the Walton Arts Center website or email rginsburg@waltonartscenter.org.
Support provided by Unilever and the Stella Boyle Smith Foundation
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