Russell Schmidt
Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition – Finals
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United States2022 Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition The Finals of the inaugural Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition will be held on Saturday, October 8th. After a Preliminary round that featured video submissions from all over the world, these six outstanding artists have been invited to Scottsdale to perform solo piano selections in Ravenscroft Hall…
Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition – Finals
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United States2022 Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition The Finals of the inaugural Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition will be held on Saturday, October 8th. After a Preliminary round that featured video submissions from all over the world, these six outstanding artists have been invited to Scottsdale to perform solo piano selections in Ravenscroft Hall…
JAZZBIRD NIGHTS: TITO CARRILLO & THE VJC SENIOR SHOWCASE
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesFriday, May 5th, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes MSW's Valley Jazz Cooperative alongside guest artist Tito Carrillo and his Quintet. Featured artists (first set) include: VJC Senior Showcase Outstanding seniors from MSW's Valley Jazz Cooperative program perform combo jazz alongside guest artist Tito Carrillo and leading area jazz musicians. Featured artists (second set) include: Tito Carillo…
JAZZBIRD NIGHTS: TITO CARRILLO & THE VJC SENIOR SHOWCASE
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesFriday, May 5th, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes MSW's Valley Jazz Cooperative alongside guest artist Tito Carrillo and his Quintet. Featured artists (first set) include: VJC Senior Showcase Outstanding seniors from MSW's Valley Jazz Cooperative program perform combo jazz alongside guest artist Tito Carrillo and leading area jazz musicians. Featured artists (second set) include: Tito Carillo…
VJC Spotlight Concert – Featuring Tito Carrillo (Benefit for Abounding Service)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC Spotlight Concert - Featuring Tito Carrillo The Valley Jazz Cooperative Sapphire and Indigo Big Bands will share the stage for the final time this season, joined by guest trumpeter Tito Carrillo. The program will include music by Duke Ellington, Bill Holman, John Scofield, Jueun Seok, and Mary Lou Williams. This year’s VJC Spotlight Concert is also a…
VJC Spotlight Concert – Featuring Tito Carrillo (Benefit for Abounding Service)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC Spotlight Concert - Featuring Tito Carrillo The Valley Jazz Cooperative Sapphire and Indigo Big Bands will share the stage for the final time this season, joined by guest trumpeter Tito Carrillo. The program will include music by Duke Ellington, Bill Holman, John Scofield, Jueun Seok, and Mary Lou Williams. This year’s VJC Spotlight Concert is also a…
VJC Alumni Band
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC Alumni Band Ravenscroft presents the VJC Alumni Band, under the direction of Russell Schmidt. The ensemble features talented young musicians who were previously members of the Valley Jazz Cooperative during their high school years. The Alumni Band presents one concert annually, allowing these creative artists to reconnect and make music once more. The concert…
VJC Alumni Band
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC Alumni Band Ravenscroft presents the VJC Alumni Band, under the direction of Russell Schmidt. The ensemble features talented young musicians who were previously members of the Valley Jazz Cooperative during their high school years. The Alumni Band presents one concert annually, allowing these creative artists to reconnect and make music once more. The concert…
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesValley Jazz Cooperative Winter Performance The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s three jazz ensembles offer their Winter Performance in Ravenscroft Hall, their first VJC concert of the year. Appearing on the program are the Cerulean and Indigo Big Bands, led by Russell Schmidt, and the Sapphire Big Band, under the direction of Paul Brewer. VJC student ensembles…
PASSION: A Good Friday Experience
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesPASSION: A GOOD FRIDAY EXPERIENCE Friday, March 29th @ 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm Passion: A Good Friday Experience, features a dramatic reading from the Gospel of John, moving musical interludes, and compelling projected visuals in the beautifully appointed Ravenscroft Hall in Scottsdale. Three presentations of this special event are scheduled for Friday, March 29th at 3…
VJC Spring Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesValley Jazz Cooperative Spring Performance The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s Indigo and Cerulean Big Bands present their Spring Performance in Ravenscroft Hall on Saturday, April 6th at 7pm. Both ensembles are directed by VJC Founder Russell Schmidt. VJC student groups typically perform a wide variety of repertoire, mixing selections from historically significant composers such as Benny Carter,…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC SENIOR SHOWCASE FEATURING JOHN WOJCIECHOWSKI (BENEFIT FOR HART PANTRY)
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesFriday, May 3rd, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative alongside guest artist John Wojciechowski (Benefit for HART Pantry). Featured artists (first set) include: VJC Senior Showcase Outstanding seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative program perform combo jazz alongside guest artist John Wojciechowski and leading area jazz musicians. Featured artists (second set) include: John Wojciechowski…
VJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING JOHN WOJCIECHOWSKI (BENEFIT FOR HART PANTRY)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC Spotlight Concert Featuring John Wojciechowski (Benefit for HART Pantry) The ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program will share the stage for the final time this season, joined by guest saxophonist John Wojciechowski. The Sapphire Ensemble (led by Paul Brewer) and the Cerulean and Indigo Big Bands (directed by Russell Schmidt) will play a wide-ranging…
VJC Alumni Band
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesValley Jazz Cooperative Alumni Band An annual highlight of the Valley Jazz Cooperative program, the VJC Alumni Band returns to the Ravenscroft Hall stage on Saturday, June 29th at 7pm! The jazz ensemble, under the direction of Russell Schmidt, features talented young musicians who were previously members of the VJC during their high school years.…
CHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: Immersion
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesCHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: IMMERSION Experience chamber music like never before! This season’s Chamber @ Ravenscroft series opens with a groundbreaking concert where great classical selections meet mesmerizing, immersive visuals. Join us in Ravenscroft Hall on Saturday, November 16th, at 7:00 pm, for Immersion, featuring visuals by new media artist Xuan, paired with music by Bach, Strauss, Schumann, and…
VJC Alumni Band+: Christmas Concert
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC ALUMNI BAND+: CHRISTMAS CONCERT *** THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT *** Join us for a magical Christmas Concert as Valley Jazz Cooperative program alums combine forces with a handful of leading area jazz artists for the first time! The newly-formed VJC Alumni Band+ will perform big band arrangements of holiday classics, infusing Ravenscroft Hall with the Spirit of…
CHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: American Intersection
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesCHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: AMERICAN INTERSECTION The 2024/25 Chamber @ Ravenscroft season continues with an American Intersection, featuring selections from one of our nation’s greatest musical innovators, Charlie Parker. We are also privileged by the return of Chicago legend John Wojciechowski to the Ravenscroft Hall stage, as he fills Bird’s role in a performance of selections from Charlie…
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC WINTER PERFORMANCE Two of the Valley Jazz Cooperative's student ensembles share the stage for the VJC Winter Performance in Ravenscroft Hall. This matinee event is the opening VJC concert of the year, showcasing Cerulean Two (a combo) and Indigo (a big band) on the program. Both groups are led by VJC Founder Russell Schmidt.…
CHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: Borders & Bridges
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesCHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: BORDERS & BRIDGES Join us in Ravenscroft Hall on Saturday, March 22nd, at 7:00 pm, for a daring program entitled Borders & Bridges! Pieces by an absolute A-list of “B” composers (Barber, Bartók, Beethoven, Borodin, Brahms, and Britten) lead us through a crisp first half with a series of miniatures: In an…
VJC Spring Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC SPRING PERFORMANCE All three Valley Jazz Cooperative student ensembles share the stage for the VJC Spring Performance in Ravenscroft Hall. This concert showcases the Cerulean Combo and Indigo Big Band (both under the direction of Russell Schmidt), as well as the Sapphire Big Band (under the direction of Paul Brewer). The VJC Spring Performance…
VJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING NICK FINZER (BENEFIT FOR KITCHEN ON THE STREET)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING NICK FINZER (BENEFIT FOR KITCHEN ON THE STREET) On Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00 p.m., the ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program will share the Ravenscroft Hall stage for the final time this season, joined by guest trombonist Nick Finzer. The Sapphire Big Band (led by Paul Brewer) and…
CHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: Resonance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesCHAMBER @ RAVENSCROFT: RESONANCE The Chamber @ Ravenscroft season closes with a powerful Resonance on Saturday, May 10th, at 3:00 pm. Taking the stage for this concert are three amazing artists familiar to our audience: violinist Rolf Haas, violist Nancy Buck, and pianist Miki Aoki, who have performed on such remarkable Chamber shows as Inspiration…
ARIZONA PIANO INSTITUTE
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesRavenscroft Presents the Arizona Piano Institute Join an internationally-renowned roster of concert pianists appearing in Ravenscroft Hall for the API Summer Festival 2025 Faculty Artist Recital. This special matinee event kicks off the annual, weeklong festival, which provides an invaluable opportunity for young piano students to participate in educational workshops, recitals, and masterclasses. This year’s…
VALLEY JAZZ COOPERATIVE ALUMNI BAND
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesVALLEY 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…