Help SEMJA Support U-M High School Jazz Festival

SEMJA is continuing its support of the University of Michigan High School Jazz Festival, which takes place on February 8, 2014. This festival invites big bands from high schools all over Michigan, and some of the outstanding soloists are rewarded with scholarships. SEMJA has decided to support one such scholarship, named for Louis Smith, Blue Note recording artist and former U-M School of Music faculty member. We are looking for matching funds from individuals or businesses up to $1,000. The scholarship would pay for attendance at a summer jazz camp for high school students. If you are willing to provide a match, please contact us via our webpage or call SEMJA president Lars Bjorn at 734-668-7470.

The February 8 festival is an all-day affair with workshops, clinics, lectures, and master classes with U-M jazz faculty and special guest, tenorist, arranger and bandleader Jimmy Heath (right). Heath is an alumnus of the Dizzy Gillespie big band and the Heath Brothers’ bands.

The festival is open to high school and college students and the general public (for more information, please go to music.umich.edu/performances_events/jazzfestival) and will be held in the Earl V. Moore Building or the Walgreen Drama Center. The day is capped by a Festival Feature Concert at Rackham Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. featuring the U-M Jazz Ensembles led by Ellen Rowe. Heath will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the winner of the Louis Smith SEMJA Scholarship will also be announced. To top off the evening, Heath will perform with pianist Rowe, guitarist Randy Napoleon, bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Michael Gould.