Terence Blanchard News

On Thursday, April 20, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will welcome 280 of New York City's top cultural and community leaders, philanthropists, celebrities and art aficionados to the second annual YoungArts New York Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing. Presented in collaboration with luxury brand Swarovski, with support from Max Mara, the event will be hosted by honorary co-chairs Debbie Allen, Agnes Gund and Sir Salman Rushdie, as well as gala co-chairs Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm, and Gillian Hearst Simonds and Christian Simonds. The YoungArts New York Gala will be emceed by former Gossip Girl and The Knick actress Zuzanna Szadkowski (1997 Winner in Theater and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), and will feature an elegant reception and seated dinner by Restaurant Associates. Throughout the evening, a series of interdisciplinary performance vignettes will be directed by YoungArts alumni Jake Goldbas (2007 Winner in Jazz), featuring soul singer and songwriter Grace Weber (2006 Winner in Voice and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), jazz singer, songwriter and bassist Kate Davis (2009 Winner in Jazz and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), R&B/pop singer and songwriter and The Voice Season 8 Top 5 contestant India Carney (2011 Winner in Theater, Voice and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), modern dancer Javon Jones (2016 Winner in Dance and inaugural Max Mara Young Visionary Award recipient) alongside four recent YoungArts dance alumni, and more.

On Saturday, April 22, Da Camera of Houston presents four-time Grammy Award winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard at the Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center. Since embarking on his solo recording career, the New Orleans-born and -based artist has traveled many paths musically, including delivering adventurous and provocative acoustic jazz outings of original material and composing over 50 soundtracks. Now Blanchard powerfully and playfully journeys into a new jazz realm with his quintet, The E-Collective - an exciting zone of grooved fusion teeming with funk, R&B and blues colors. It is his first foray into straight-up groove.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts)'s 2017 YoungArts New York program will take place from April 25 to 30 and will offer approximately 75 of this year's YoungArts Winners - some of the country's most talented artists ages 15 to 18 years old - life-changing opportunities to learn, connect and collaborate with their peers and renowned artists across disciplines.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced the appointment of Stacey Glassman Mizener as Vice President of Development and Dejha Carrington as Vice President of External Relations.

Who among us hasn't fought for acceptance and inner peace? That alone makes Champion a winner.

Some of the biggest names on the jazz circuit-including Miller audience favorites Warren Wolf and Miguel Zenon-come together to form the inimitable collective SFJAZZ. This touring program celebrates one of the genre's greats: Miles Davis. The band's explorations of this rich repertoire make it feel fresh once more, as revelatory and innovative as it sounded when Miles issued his first records back in the 1940s and 50s. 

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) recently announced details for its 2017 regional programs, including a new long-term institutional partnership with the Center for the Art of Performance at University of California Los Angeles (CAP UCLA) that represents YoungArts' deepening roots in the area, and further expands the organization's resources and reach on the West Coast.

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 7:30pm, Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents excerpts from Champion by five-time Grammy award-winning musician and playwright Terence Blanchard, who tells the true story of Emile Griffith in his haunting and visually stunning 'opera in jazz.'

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2016-2017 season with the company premieres of two modern American masterworks of opera: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's Dead Man Walking, February 25-March 11, 2017 in the Opera House, and Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer's Champion, March 4- 18, 2017 in the Opera House. Both operas explore the theme of social justice which is often associated with John F. Kennedy and are presented as part of JFKC, the Kennedy Center's season-long celebration of President Kennedy's centennial. Using many of the same designers and scenic elements, the directors of each opera have worked collaboratively to create two distinct worlds in each new production to showcase the issues of Justice, Courage, and Freedom at the heart of these two compelling stories. An additional special event will continue the exploration of these themes: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will headline Justice at the Opera on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in the Opera House.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced details for its 2017 regional programs, including a new long-term institutional partnership with the Center for the Art of Performance at University of California Los Angeles (CAP UCLA) that represents YoungArts' deepening roots in the area, and further expands the organization's resources and reach on the West Coast.

This February at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MetLiveArts includes The Lincoln Family Album, the male vocal quintet, Profeti della Quinta, Gerald Clayton Quartet and Quartet in Residence, PUBLIQuartet, returns to The Met with a program exploring, What is "American music"? with Jessie Montgomery's Banner. 

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced the nominees for the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.

STG has announced GRAMMY Award-winning musician and record producer Robert Glasper as Music Director for the 16th annual More Music @ The Moore.

On Saturday, January 14, 2017, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) hosted its annual fundraiser in Miami, theBackyard Ball performance and gala, to help support the artistic development of the nation's most promising young artists. In addition to recognizing the talent of this year's 691 YoungArts Winners, the event honored jazz pianist Jason Moran (1993 Winner in Jazz) with the Arison Alumni Award, and choreographer Jessica Lang as the Arison Award Honoree for their vital contributions and commitment to the arts. The event also featured Javon Jones's acceptance of the inaugural 2016 Max Mara Young Visionary Award presented by Maria Giulia Maramotti, Max Mara's Director of retail for North America. 

Tonight, January 14, 2017, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will host its largest annual fundraiser, the Backyard Ball performance and gala, as the culmination of the organization's signature program, National YoungArts Week, through January 15.

If you hear upbeat jazz wafting through the halls of The Kennedy Center this weekend, it may very well be their world premiere commission BUD, NOT BUDDY, a production that is part jazz concert, part radio play, and all quite good.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) and Sundance Institute have announced the line-up for the 19th annual Composer/Director Roundtable and 15th annual Snowball during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 7:30pm, Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents excerpts from Champion by five-time Grammy award-winning musician and playwright Terence Blanchard, who tells the true story of Emile Griffith in his haunting and visually stunning 'opera in jazz.' The work, which blew critics away when it premiered in 2013, explores the life of the closeted gay boxer whose knockout of a homophobic rival in the early 1960s let to unexpected tragedy. Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello will moderate a discussion with Blanchard, Deynce Graves and other members of the cast following performance excerpts.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the full casting for the world premiere of Bud, Not Buddy, a new play by Obie Award winner Kirsten Greenidge, adapted from Christopher Paul Curtis's acclaimed Newbury Medal winning novel, with music by world-renowned jazz artist and composer Terence Blanchard.