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Jazz is brewing  at Beavercreek  High School event

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2:06 PM Thursday, February 17, 2011

If you are a local lover of jazz music, you probably know that WOJ stands for Weekend of Jazz,

Billed as “Where the Future of Jazz Meets the Legends of Jazz,” this is the 11th year that the Beavercreek Music Parents Association has hosted the event, bringing together young jazz musicians from high schools in a three-state area and professional jazz musicians.

From March 3 to March 5, Beavercreek High School’s Alumni Auditorium will offer stage space for not only high school jazz bands from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, but also some top-notch professional jazz performers, including The Duke Ellington Orchestra and Jon Secada.

The Beavercreek School District’s jazz bands will kick off the festival with a 7 p.m. open clinic on March 3, which is free and open to the public.

An 8 p.m. March 4 concert, which requires a ticket, will feature John Secada, a Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and Broadway star.

The international superstar, with a master’s degree in jazz vocal performance from the University of Miami, not only has written and produced his own music, such as his album, “Expressions: The Jazz Album,” but also that of such artists as Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez.

On March 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the high school will be humming with continuous big band jazz performances by high school bands. These performances also are free and open to the public.

The Saturday evening concert, which requires a ticket, will feature The Duke Ellington Orchestra at 8 p.m.

Duke Ellington was an active performer and prolific composer until his death in 1974. At that time, his son, Mercer Ellington, became the orchestra’s leader. When Mercer Ellington passed away, his son, Paul Ellington, took over the leadership role and continues so today.

While all of the high school performances are free and open to the public, the Friday and Saturday evening professional concerts do require tickets, which are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at the WOJ website, www.WeekendOfJazz.org.

For more information on Jon Secada, visit his website at www.jonsecada.com, and for more information on The Duke Ellington Orchestra, visit its website at www.dukeellington.com.

Contact this columnist at dsb@donet.com.

Recreation DIANA BLOWERS

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