'The Three Ellas' Celebrate Fitzgerald at 6/24 Merit School of Music Benefit

City Winery Chicago, one of the city's newest music venues and philanthropic supporter of music education, will host and sponsor a special concert to benefit its West Loop neighbor, Merit School of Music. On June 24 The Three Ellas, a veteran female vocal jazz trio, and 11-year-old newcomer Mae Ya Carter Ryan, will perform a brilliant jazz repertoire. All net proceeds from the event will subsidize Merit's music education programs.

The Three Ellas, featuring Dee Alexander, Spider Saloff and Frieda Lee, will celebrate Ella Fitzgerald with the classical jazz standards she made famous. Each of the three contemporary jazz artists has achieved individual musical acclaim, yet together in their musical revue they enchant audiences by reawakening the spirit of the First Lady of Soul.

Special guest Mae Ya Carter Ryan, a student at Merit School with an unforgettably rich and deep singing voice, will bring her own soulful performance that belies her age. Like The Three Ellas, Mae Ya's voice and spirituality have been compared to that of a musical great- Mahalia Jackson, "The Queen of Gospel."

Tickets to this exclusive fundraiser concert are $75 premier and $55 reserved and available at www.citywinery.com or 312-733-WINE. Doors open at 5 p.m. and performance begins at 7 p.m. City Winery's full menu and bar selection will be available throughout the show.

City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph, strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to its customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music and culinary arts. City Winery is a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food and wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations and fine dining.

Merit School of Music, www.meritmusic.org, is a nationally renowned music institution. Each year, more than 6,000 Chicagoland children, ranging in age from early childhood through high school, receive high-quality music instruction. Merit's students not only develop as musicians, they also gain valuable academic and social skills. More than 60% of Merit's students come from families with incomes below the poverty line. More than half of Merit's budget is allocated to financial aid and scholarships, serving approximately 75% of Merit students.

Merit transforms the lives of Chicago-area youth by providing the highest quality music education - with a focus on underserved communities - inspiring young people to achieve their full musical and personal potential.

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