Juilliard Jazz Ensemble Comes To Brewster

For one night only, Cape Cod residents have the opportunity to witness the next generation of jazz performers as Arts Empowering Life will host the Juilliard Jazz: Duke Ellington Ensemble in concert at the Performing Arts Center in Brewster. 

The show — “Juilliard Jazz Ensemble: Jazz Originals and American Songbook” — will feature students from The Juilliard School jazz program performing songs from George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter, among others, in addition to original compositions. 

The artistic premise of the ensemble, named after jazz legend Duke Ellington, is to “embrace jazz as an ensemble music, valuing group interaction and individuality as catalysts for creation in the spirit of community,” according to the listing for the event. Arts Empowering Life Marketing Director Kirsti Pfeiffer said she expects a great evening with top-tier musicians. 

“We are interested in programming all different types of music at the Performing Arts Center, and were interested in having an evening of jazz this summer,” said Pfeiffer. “Juilliard Jazz is such high quality and really caught the vision of what we're doing at the PAC, bringing joy to people through music.”

The Juilliard Jazz: Duke Ellington Ensemble is a collection of the most experienced students in the Juilliard School’s jazz program. According to the school’s website, these students are selected to play in the program where they “primarily concentrate on honing their performance, composition and teaching skills.” The students participate in biweekly rehearsals with their coach, Ben Wolfe, who will join them for the event.

Wolfe explained that the ensemble is a two-year commitment and that the group performs many times through the two years they’re together. In order to become a part of the ensemble, students have to audition, which includes a pre-screening submission and a multiple-round live audition. Wolfe said that the group has performed in a variety of venues.

“Performances occur at the Juilliard School, New York clubs such as Dizzy’s Club and The Blue Note, as well performances around the world,” said Wolfe. “Some of the places the Duke Ellington Ensemble has performed include many places throughout the U.S. as well as performances in Italy and Japan.”

This group is made up of Patrick Hill on the alto saxophone, Dabin Ryu on the piano, Derek Duleba on guitar, Guillermo Lopez on bass, and Jerome Gillespie on drums. Wolfe noted the diversity among the ensemble.

“The students in the ensemble are at a high level with professional experience and come from many places around the world,” said Wolfe. 

The concert will be held on Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 and seniors’ tickets are $25. Students and those under 18 are free. 

For more information on the event, visit artsempoweringlife.org.