VALLEY JAZZ COOPERATIVE ALUMNI BAND

VALLEY JAZZ COOPERATIVE ALUMNI BAND

An annual highlight on the VJC calendar, the Valley Jazz Cooperative Alumni Band takes the Ravenscroft Hall stage on Saturday, June 28th at 7 PM!

Due to ever-expanding interest from program alums, this year’s edition will feature two different big bands, each one performing half the concert. VJC Alumni groups feature talented young musicians who participated in the Valley Jazz Cooperative during their high school years. These exceptionally gifted alumni present a concert each June, allowing these creative artists to reconnect and make music once more. The groups will perform under the direction of VJC Founder Russell Schmidt.

Previous Alumni Band concerts have included music from composers and arrangers such as Bob Brookmeyer, Duke Ellington, Jhoely Garay, Neal Hefti, Bill Holman, Thad Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Sammy Nestico, Maria Schneider, Jueun Seok, and Billy Strayhorn.

The Valley Jazz Cooperative was founded in 2016 as an educational outreach of MSW Ministries. Instruction is focused on expanding the creativity of VJC members by developing improvisation skills and learning the unique language of jazz. The main VJC program runs annually between December and May and is offered free of charge to eligible, committed, passionate music students (grades 8-12). The Alumni Band program started in 2022, with alums beginning their rehearsal schedule each year upon the conclusion of the main JHS/HS program.

Lobby doors open at 6:00 p.m., and Ravenscroft Hall doors open at 6:30 p.m. No food or drink is permitted inside Ravenscroft Hall. Please note that parking is free and abundant on-site at Ravenscroft.

Cost for this event is $20.00 (adults) and $10.00 (for students). Purchase your tickets today!