High School Jazz Students Join #UNITEDWESWING Parade to Preserve Funding for Arts Education Programs Nationwide

On Friday, May 12th, more than 300 high school jazz musicians, band directors and parents will be joined by world-renowned musician and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, as well as musicians and community members, for #UnitedWeSwing, a "Second Line" Parade from Columbus Circle Park to Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, in celebration and support of arts programs and arts education nationwide.

The Second Line - a traditional brass band parade in jazz and New Orleans culture - will serve as a kickoff for Jazz at Lincoln Center's 22nd Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, an innovative jazz education program that will bring 16 high school jazz bands to New York City for workshops and performances. As part of the #UnitedWeSwing Parade, the students will perform traditional brass band tunes along Columbus Circle. Through this event, Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center will lift up these emerging jazz artists as the future of our nation's arts, and our collective wisdom and memory. Members of the public are encouraged to join.

The #UnitedWeSwing Parade, while honoring the students and band directors competing in Essentially Ellington, will also showcase how unique arts education programs empower young artists to learn, create and play. Amidst proposed cuts to arts funding in the federal budget, this Second Line seeks to demonstrate both the importance of preserving the arts as well as the need to protect the next generation's access to arts education, which is the foundation of their self-expression and free speech.

Parade begins promptly at 10:30AM on Friday, May 12th, and everyone is welcome to join. For additional information, go to www.jazz.org/unitedweswing.

To post a comment, you must register and login.