Schools

Newton Eighth Grader to Perform with NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra


Noah Klavens, an eighth grade pianist from Newton, MA, will perform with other middle and high school students in the New England Conservatory Youth Jazz Orchestra conducted by Ken Schaphorst at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at NEC's Jordan Hall, 290 Huntington Avenue, Boston.

The free concert will feature a wide variety of music including 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.

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The NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra includes Eamon Sheilon alto and soprano saxophones, Kira Daglio Fine_on alto saxophone, Josh Noel and Ryan MacLeanon 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, andNoah 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.

For more information, visit the New England Conservatory website or call 617-585-1260.

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