Winchester, Virginia – Shenandoah Conservatory, the NAACP of Winchester and Old Town Winchester partnered this year to combine the John Kirby Day Celebration with the 27th Annual Jazzathon on Friday, April 20, at 8 p.m. through 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. This year’s event honors the contributions of Winchester-born jazz musician John Kirby.
“The partnership with the NAACP and Old Town Winchester brings new meaning to the Jazzathon,” said Associate Professor of Jazz Piano Robert Larson ’08, D.M.A. “Celebrating John Kirby, which has been a separate celebration for years, is a natural fit with the Jazzathon.”
The 24-hour event kicks off at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 20, at the Bright Box Theater (15 N Loudoun St) with a performance by the Shenandoah Conservatory Little Big Band featuring guest artists Tom Williams on trumpet and Charlie Young on alto saxophone. General admission tickets are $12. Additional performances, which will continue on campus and on the Old Town Winchester walking mall, are free and open to the public.
The annual Jazzathon features 24 hours of continuous jazz performances to help raise funds to support jazz studies students at Shenandoah. There are two ways to support this year’s Jazzathon: (1) Jazz students obtain pledges (similar to a walk-a-thon) and (2) supporters can give one-time donations through the Shenandoah University Office of Advancement.
Funds raised in previous years have provided support for guest artists, benefiting students and the greater community, as well as travel opportunities for performing groups. Jazz students and faculty have participated in several performance tours around the world in countries such as China, Senegal, Ireland, Germany, and more.
Visit conservatoryperforms.org for a full schedule of events.
