Buckeye Reporter

Jazz-loving Cincinnatians are invited to the second CPS International Jazz Festival, hosted by Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC). The event is at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street, 45202.

The festival features more than 100 student musicians from the Cincinnati Public Schools Jazz Academy performing with internationally famous jazz saxophonist Joan Chamorro from Barcelona Spain. Also featured on the program will be some of the finest jazz artists from the tri-state area. 

The pre-COVID inaugural Jazz Fest (October 2019) was a successful celebration of music education; watch a recap of the first event here.

"This evening will be a spectacular showcase of the student talent we have in CPS," said Dr. Isidore Rudnick, Jazz Festival director and CPS' fine arts curriculum manager. "The CPS International Jazz Festival provides CPS students with the unique opportunity to perform with, listen to and learn from some of the best professional jazz artists here in Cincinnati and from around the world," he added.

Tri-State professional jazz artists include:

• John Zappa (Northern Kentucky) trumpet
• Angie Coyle (Cincinnati) alto saxophone, flute
• Jordan Pollard (Cincinnati) piano
• Justin Dawson (Cincinnati) double bass
• Taylor Nelson (Cincinnati) guitar
• Josh Strange (Cincinnati) vibraphone
• Brad Klein (clarinet)
• Terry Twitty (trombone)
• Myles Twitty (trumpet)

Special performances by:

• CPS Elementary Jazz Academy Orchestras
• CPS Junior High School Jazz Academy Combo
• CPS High School Jazz Academy Orchestra
• CPS Jazz Academy Faculty Ensemble

"ABC is thrilled to host the 2nd CPS International Jazz Festival," said Sally Grimes, executive director of Activities Beyond the Classroom. "COVID forced us to cancel the 2020 and 2021 events, and we're eager to showcase CPS' student musicians again. We look forward to filling the house to support the students and their musical endeavors."

The event is free, but tickets are required for entry. Tickets will be available in the P&G Hall lobby starting at 6 p.m. (one hour before showtime on May 7) For more information, visit ABCCincy.org.

The event is presented by Activities Beyond the Classroom, a nonprofit that provides extracurricular and enrichment activities to CPS students at no cost to the students or their families. Event sponsors include Flip & Sheila Cohen, Cincinnati Arts Association, the Mayerson Foundation Artistic Excellence Fund, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Willis Music.

Original source can be found here.