35th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival Announces Lineup Of Future Stars

A three-decade Labor Day Weekend tradition, the Chicago Jazz Festival gave a nod to the future when it added The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Stage in 2009.

Since then, dozens of high school and college jazz bands have performed at this heritage festival. This year’s lineup of schools is nearly entirely comprised of high school combos and ensembles. The sole college slot goes to the Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts Latin Jazz Ensemble led by master percussionist Ruben Alvarez.

Performing in a public space provides a critical learning experience for any aspiring jazz musician. An improvisatory art, playing jazz requires confidence, experience and no small measure of courage. It’s an exciting opportunity for students and their teachers and parents and a wonderful chance for audiences to connect to the traditional repertoire presented by the bands. Kenwood Academy is the recipient of this year’s Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Chicago Composer Award which has commissioned pianist Bethany Pickens to compose an original work to be performed by the band at The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Pavilion on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.

The Chicago Jazz Festival, now in Millennium Park, August 29-September 1, will present The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday at its new home on the Harris Theater Rooftop, above the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.).

The lineup is as follows:

Saturday, August 31

11:30 a.m. - 12 noon            Whitney Young Magnet High School Jazz Combo

12:15 - 12:45 p.m.                Kelly High School Jazz Ensemble

1:10 - 1:50 p.m.                     Rauner College Prep High School Jazz Ensemble

2:05 - 2:35 p.m.                     Pritzker College Prep High School Jazz Ensemble

2:50 - 3:30 p.m.                     Rich South High School Jazz Ensemble

3:45 - 4:25 p.m.                     Kenwood Academy High School Jazz Ensemble

Sunday, September 1

11:30 a.m. - 12 noon            Jones College Prep High School Jazz Combo

12:15 - 12:45 p.m.                Chicago High School for the Arts Jazz Combo

1 - 1:40 p.m.                          Morgan Park High School Jazz Ensemble

1:55 - 2:25 p.m.                     Curie Metro High School Jazz Ensemble

2:40 - 3:20 p.m.                     Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts Latin Jazz Ensemble

3:35 - 4:15 p.m.                     Lincoln Park High School Jazz Ensemble

The Young Jazz Lions stage is presented by The Chicago Community Trust. The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Pavilion demonstrates to thousands of jazz fans that the next generation of the genre is alive and well, thanks to the dedication of band directors at both the high school and college level.

The Chicago Jazz Festival is August 29-September 1, taking place at the Chicago Cultural Center, at Roosevelt University’s Ganz Hall and in Millennium Park on four stages.

The Chicago Jazz Festival is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Jazz Partnership and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The festival is sponsored in part by 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio, American Airlines, Aquafina, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, CLTV-ChicagoLand’s Television, Communications Direct, DownBeat Magazine, E&J Gallo Family Vineyards, LaGrou Distribution System, Pepsi, Stella Artois, WGN-Television and WSSD Radio-FM 88.1

For the latest information on the Chicago Jazz Festival including musical lineups, visit chicagojazzfestival.us, like us on Facebook at Chicago Jazz Festival or follow us on Twitter @ChicagoDCASE.

# # #

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.