Monterey, CA and Houston TX; October 28, 2019; Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) and Texas Southern University (TSU) are proud to announce the members of the inaugural MJF @ Houston All-Star Ensemble.
Consisting of local Houston high school musicians chosen through audition, the MJF @ Houston All-Star Ensemble is the first adjudicated group in the musical partnership between the jazz festival and the university. The All-Star Ensemble recently participated in Monterey Jazz @ TSU, a three-day intensive music symposium from October 24-26, 2019, offered by TSU’s Music Department for all greater Houston-based middle and high school music programs and the community.
Members of the MJF @ Houston All-Star Ensemble include Richard Kirk, piano (Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts); Jorge Martinez, trumpet (Heights High School); Ghonima Marwan, bass (Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts); Bryan McKinney, trombone (Humble High School); David Peraza, drums (Taylor High School); Nickerra Sam, vocal (Shadow Creek High School); and Deizmin Shaw, saxophone (Waltrip High School).
The MJF @ Houston All-Star Ensemble made its first appearance on October 27 at Jazz On The Hill, a free event presented by the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. Also featured were MJF’s 2019 Artist-in-Residence Derrick Hodge; salsa legend and conguero Poncho Sanchez; and saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
The group will also have the opportunity to perform at MJF’s 50th Next Generation Jazz Festival, which takes place April 3-5, 2020 in Monterey, and at the 63rd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 25-27, 2020.
For more information about the Monterey Jazz @ TSU program in October, click here.
About Monterey Jazz Festival
The mission of Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival. Founded in 1958, MJF envisions a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.
About Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
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For more information, high-resolution photographs and interviews, please contact:
Timothy Orr
Marketing Associate, Monterey Jazz Festival
Direct Line: 831.646.8670
Monterey Phone: 831.373.3366
timorr@montereyjazzfestival.org
www.montereyjazzfestival.org
or:
Steve Scheffler
Associate Vice President
Texas Southern University
Office of Marketing and Communications
Office: 713.313.7421
281.851.1690 (cell)
Hannah Hall, Suite 220
3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004
Steve.Scheffler@tsu.edu
www.tsu.edu
Monterey Jazz Festival is honored to receive support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, NEA Art Works, North Coast Brewing Company, Scheid Family Wines, Blue Note at Sea, Inns of Monterey, Yamaha, Medcom Solutions, Taylor Farms, Macy’s, Blue Microphones, Montage Health, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Kind Bars, El Jefe Tequila, Tahoe Blue Vodka, Geico, Sanctuary Vacation Rentals, Vibes Earplugs, Alvarez Technology Group, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Naturipe, MogoARTS Marketing, Remo, KSBW/ABC/EstrellaTV, DownBeat, JazzTimes, KAZU, SmoothJazz.com Global, Monterey Herald, KSQD, STAR Sanitation Services, and Mission Linen Supply.