Let’s Build Together is a three-part public engagement program that connects jazz and the arts with science, engineering, and medicine through the shared processes of ideation, experimentation, and demonstration. Anchored in the lived practices of improvisation and iteration, the program demystifies academic work and invites public audiences into the creative processes that shape discovery, innovation, and expression.

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Let’s Build Together

The award-winning, nationally-recognized Advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble performs.

Advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Swedish musical sensation Gunhild Carling is an internationally acclaimed superstar whose show is a can’t-miss event! Whether she’s singing favorite swinging jazz standards, playing one of many 11 instruments or juggling and tap dancing, Gunhild’s sublime showmanship shines. And just wait for the finale – spoiler alert – she plays three trumpets at once! Carling competed on Sweden’s Dancing with The Stars and also performed for Sweden’s Got Talent in 2017 and on America’s Got Talent. She performed with her 'Carling Family Big Band' at the Royal Palace in Stockholm performing such great memorable vintage songs such as "Minnie the Moocher," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "All of Me," "It Had to Be You," and an endless repertoire of songs, Gunhild masterfully takes you back to another era like a time machine.

Syracuse Jazz Fest 2025 - Gunhild Carling

Sweden's largest jazz festival celebrates its 20th anniversary! This festival is student-driven by tradition.

Sweden's largest jazz festival celebrates its 20th anniversary! New Sound Made 2025 presents a total of 45 acts that transform the Royal Academy of Music into an exuberant festival area for 3 days. The festival, which is organized by KMH students, gives you a unique chance to experience tomorrow's jazz stars - with free admission! 

New Sound Made 2025

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ_ZQW5C2pw&amp;t=2s

The Artelize Podcast Presenting Will Shutes: 'Bring it down out of the clouds to human being level'

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFe6mW6x9pc

The Artelize Podcast: 'Amplifying What Makes Us Human'. A conversation with Zuly E. Inirio

Podcast link: https://youtu.be/4hagYvrYbuM

The Artelize Podcast and Kasper Holten - Pedefining Opera for the modern world

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36M5Hi6O80

The Artelize Podcast - A legacy of innovation in Opera: Celebrating Marc A. Scorca

NCBB's Birthday Bash

This holiday season, VOPA has teamed up with the fabulous ANGEL CITY BIG BAND for an afternoon of holiday classics and timeless jazz standards! Sung by VOPA favorites Dylan F. Thomas, Shira Renee Thomas, and Julia Timmons, and featuring guest artists Mady McGraw and James Kerrigan, this concert is sure to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart! From Winter Wonderland to the smooth sound of Tony Bennett, our versatile program is fun for the whole family, so grab your kids, your grandparents, and the neighbors for this cheer-filled evening. Be on the lookout for sing-alongs and festive sweets!

A Holiday Celebration

**Event: Billie, Sarah, and Ella: Revolutionary Women in Jazz**

**Date: Coming November 2024**

Soulpepper Theatre is proud to present a captivating concert event titled "Billie, Sarah, and Ella: Revolutionary Women in Jazz" in November 2024. This remarkable performance is a tribute to the indelible impact of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald—three iconic figures whose contributions not only transformed the music industry but also gave Jazz its profound social purpose.

Set against the backdrop of the modern era's dawn, the concert explores the stories and struggles of these women who became the soundtrack for change. Through their artistry, they inspired a movement, challenging societal norms and paving the way for future generations.

The concert is brought to life under the creative vision of Divine Brown, who serves as the creator and co-writer, alongside co-writer Sarah Wilson. The direction is helmed by Weyni Mengesha, promising an evening of powerful performances and a deep dive into the legacy of these revolutionary women in Jazz.

Join us for a night of soul-stirring music and storytelling as we pay homage to the heroes, both known and unknown, who played pivotal roles in shaping the music industry and its social impact. This event is not just a concert; it's a celebration of resilience, talent, and the transformative power of Jazz.

**Location:** Soulpepper Theatre

**Join the Conversation:** Use #spBillieSarahandElla to share your experiences and join the broader discussion around this monumental event.

**Sponsors:** This event is proudly supported by our music and piano sponsors, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the stories of Billie, Sarah, and Ella come alive on stage. Mark your calendars for November 2024 and be part of a musical journey that honors the revolutionary women of Jazz.

Billie, Sarah, and Ella: Revolutionary Women in Jazz

Under the direction of Emory's acclaimed Jazz Artist Affiliates, the Emory Jazz Combos give students an opportunity to explore many facets of improvisation in a small group setting. Usually consisting of five to eight members, the primary focus of these groups is on gaining experience in improvising and soloing for each participant.

Jazz on the Green

Patterson Green

NIC Jazz Concert

Join the Department of Music on Friday, April 5th 9am-9pm for our Jazz Festival!

Jazz Festival

In these short lunchtime concerts, experience SDSU Music students from across the School's Divisions as they perform a variety of musical selections.

Jazz Divisional 2

Angola Prison is the largest and one of the most notorious prisons in the United States, built into a slave plantation that Louisiana bought in 1901. It has also been the most musically significant. Harbert’s wor chronicles dozens of musicians and bands over 120 years, showing how music is a vital resource for prisoners. That resource, however, is conditional, as the administration uses music in many ways. The history of this musical dialogue offers a unique perspective on incarceration, politics, and the development of music in the twentieth-century American South. The lecture will highlight the musical, political, and intellectual role of jazz in the prison, from the 1950s through the 1960s. 

Department of Music Lecture: "Instrument of the State: A Century of Music in Louisiana's Angola Prison"

Music Classroom Building

Jazz Mapping offers a systematic framework for analyzing jazz improvisation techniques. It classifies and structures solo components hierarchically, based on their musical relevance, providing insights into the distinct musical lexicon utilized by various jazz artists and genres. In its digital implementation, the system provides an API interface backed by a PostgreSQL database that contains annotated data for each solo. This allows users to procure basic metrics and source solos from designated artists or eras. The system also facilitates detailed analysis of solos by highlighting inter-referential components within the performance, elucidating the structural and thematic nuances of jazz improvisation.

Jazz Mapping: An Advanced Framework for Solo Analysis & Discovery in Jazz Music

Jazz Divisional 4

Jazz Divisional 3

Jazz Divisional 1

**Central Ave Program MUSE/IQUE: A Tribute to the Musical Soul of L.A.**

Join us for a remarkable journey back in time with the Central Ave Program MUSE/IQUE, a celebration of the rich musical heritage of Central Avenue, once the heart of Los Angeles' jazz scene. This event, presented in conjunction with The New 9th and Central Jazz Festival, is part of our 2023 season MUSIC POWER, dedicated to exploring the visionary artists whose music not only shaped public consciousness but also drove meaningful social change.

**About the Program:**
Central Avenue, in the early to mid-20th century, was the epicenter of L.A.'s musical soul, a place where the vibrant nightlife and the sounds of jazz brought the community together. It was here that music and identity intertwined, and art became a lived experience for African Americans in Los Angeles. MUSE/IQUE honors this legacy with tributes to the brilliant visionaries and artists who made an impact on Central Avenue, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and many more.

**Special Assembly Performance:**
In 2022, MUSE/IQUE first performed this program at a special assembly for over 750 students, teachers, and staff at Thomas Jefferson High School, offering many students their first exposure to live music on a grand scale. Thomas Jefferson High School, a cultural focal point in the story of Central Avenue, boasts a long list of notable alumni, including Etta James.

**2023 Season:**
One year later, we are reprising this celebrated program with most of the original artists, continuing to pay homage to the musical history and legacy of Central Avenue.

**Featured Artists:**
- **Sy Smith**, vocals: Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter, known as the queen of underground soul, who has performed tributes to Ella Fitzgerald and other iconic women of jazz at prestigious venues worldwide.
- **LaVance Colley**, vocals: A versatile artist with a gospel, jazz, and R&B background, who has worked with legends like Beyonce Knowles, John Legend, and Diana Ross.
- **The DC6 Singers Collective**, vocals: A Los Angeles-based ensemble known for their dynamic and energetic performances of gospel, Motown, and pop standards.
- **The MUSE/IQUE Orchestra**, led by Rachael Worby, with arrangements by Jared Jenkins, Myron McKinley, and others, featuring a talented lineup of musicians across various instruments.

**Sponsors:**
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous season sponsors, including Anonymous 2, Avery and Andrew Barth, Michael Casey, and many others, whose support makes this event possible.

Don't miss this unforgettable tribute to the musical soul of L.A. and the enduring legacy of Central Avenue. Join us as we celebrate the power of music to unite and inspire.

Central Avenue

Join us for this fun African Jazz lecture and listening event. This event has been made possible with the assistance of the Southern African Arts Alliance; Common Tone Arts, Inc. and Outward Visions, Inc. Boxed lunches will be provided!

Free South African Jazz Event – Art, Freedom, Identity and Ubuntu

Soulpepper Theatre proudly presents "Billie, Sarah, and Ella: Revolutionary Women in Jazz," a tribute to the iconic figures Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald who transformed the music industry and gave Jazz its social purpose. This special production, featuring Soulpepper Slaight Music Associate Divine Brown, celebrates the stories of these revolutionary women known for their significant contributions to jazz music. The show runs from February 22 to March 12, offering audiences approximately 75 minutes of captivating performances.

In addition to the performances, attendees are invited to a Community Conversation on Sunday, March 5th, at 3:30 pm, in celebration of International Women's Day. This TD Community Conversation will delve into the evolution of the music industry led by revolutionary women and game changers. Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha will lead the discussion alongside Juno award-winning singer and theatre creator Divine Brown, Executive Director at ADVANCE, Canada's Black Music Business Collective, Keziah Myers, and Business Executive and Music/Television producer, Denise Donlon.

The cast includes Akosua Amo-Adem as the Narrator, with Divine Brown, Shakura Dickson, and Renee Rowe as featured performers. The creative team is led by Divine Brown (Creator), Weyni Mengesha (Director), Joel Joseph (Music Director), Sarah Wilson (Writer), with a talented crew supporting the production's design and execution.

Don't miss this powerful tribute to the women who shaped the sound of a generation. Buy your tickets now and join the conversation using #spBillieSarahElla to be part of this inspiring event.

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NCBB's Birthday Bash

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A Holiday Celebration

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Billie, Sarah, and Ella: ...

Soulpepper Theatre Company

Jazz on the Green

Emory University

NIC Jazz Concert

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Jazz Festival

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Jazz Divisional 2

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Department of Music Lectu...

Washington University in St. Louis Depar...

Jazz Mapping: An Advanced...

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Jazz Divisional 4

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Jazz Divisional 3

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Jazz Divisional 1

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Central Avenue

Muse/ique

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University of Arizona School of Music

Free South African Jazz E...

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Soulpepper Theatre Company