philadelphia

A4 Sunday, March 22, 2009 reading Eagle, Reading, Pa.Medley of educational eventsnuture jazz in young musiciansby dana l. hoffmanJazz is America’s true art form, and it’s vitalto keep that art alive by introducing and sharingit with younger people.Along with presenting 10 days of amazingmusical entertainment, the VF Outlet BerksJazz Fest also serves as an educational tool forlocal young musicians.This year, the education committee, headedby coordinators Chris Heslop, Mike Eben andCarl Zeplin, has planned “Get JazzED,” a daylongprogram for young musicians on Sunday,March 29, at Kutztown University.Eight schools are bringing full bands for aday of workshops, clinics, adjudications andperformances, all culminating in a gala concert.Educators will be Kutztown University facultymembers Kevin Kjos, who heads the jazzstudies program, as well as Allison Miller, DavidCullen, Adam Koelker, Alan Apple and ScottLee. They will be joined by guest cliniciansIngrid Jensen and Michael Davis, both NewYork-based musicians.“The day is not about competitions,” Heslopsaid. “It’s strictly educational. These clinicians’09Alto saxophones:Andrew Mohler( Kutztown)Seth Ebersole (Gov. Mifflin)Tenor saxophones:Nathan Bellott (Gov. Mifflin)Jordan Graef (Boyertown)Baritone saxophones:Matthew Haelig (Fleetwood)will be interactive on stage with the kids.”“Get JazzED” is being presented by Voices,the teen publication in each Tuesday’s ReadingEagle, and is being underwritten by a grantfrom The Reading Musical Foundation. Anadditional sponsor is Project Penske.The event will close with a free communityconcert at KU’s Schaeffer Auditorium, featuringthe Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band andthe Kutztown University Jazz Ensemble I, whichwill include the KU jazz faculty and specialguests.For year-round jazz education opportunitiesin Berks County, students can go to www.berksjazzjam.com.Another unique educational event of adifferent scope is Primary Stages Jazz Festfor Kids theater performances at the Instituteof the Arts in Wyomissing. The performancesare slated for throughout March and April, withfourt shows during the festival on March 28and April 4, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.“Original jazz music is put to an existing play,”Heslop said, who wrote the music for thisyear’s show, titled “Cows Don’t Fly and OtherWell Known Facts.”BERKS HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR JAZZ BANDTrumpets:Owen Trexler (Wilson)David Quarmley (Kutztown)Carmen Ebersole (Gov. Mifflin)Dylan Hinnershitz (Muhlenberg)Kris Hartman (Kutztown)Trombones:Nathaniel Eshleman (Boyertown)Harry Trexler (Wilson)Bradley Richard (Boyertown)Adam Rudderow (Muhlenberg)The play was written by Larry and VivianSnipes, and is geared toward ages 2-8. Heslopsaid the show includes two professionalmusicians paired with two student musicians,thanks to a grant through the Reading MusicalFoundation.“It turns out to be great for everybody,” hesaid.The Berks High School All-Star Jazz Bandwill once again play with the United StatesArmy Jazz Ambassadors on Tuesday, March31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Reading Crowne Hotel,following an afternoon workshop with theAmbassadors.Returning for its ninth year, Gerald Veasley’sBass Bootcamp, March 27-29 at the ReadingCrowne Hotel, gives students the opportunityto learn from world-class bassists Victor Wooten,Veasley, Chris Farr, David Dyson and more.Hall of Fame drummer Steve Smith, herethis year with Vital Information, is presenting hisdrum clinic, March 28 at the Crowne, from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.As always, the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Festmakes it a goal to not only entertain, buteducate as well.Piano: David Fahim (Kutztown) Guest conductor:Guitar: Dylan Cowell (Kutztown) Dr. Kevin Kjos,Kutztown UniversityBass: Nicholas Shaw (Muhlenberg)County coordinator:Drums: Jordan McCree (Reading)Doug Matz, KutztownVibes: Adam Rabenold (Kutztown)Area High SchoolVocals: Carmen Ebersole (Gov. Mifflin)WORKSHOPS, ClinICS,youth performancesSCHEDULESaturday, March 28 and April 4● Cows Don’t Fly and Other Well-Known FactsPrimary Stages Jazz Fest for Kids theater performanceLocation: Institute of the Arts, WyomissingTime: 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.Admission: $7 at the door or $6 ($5 members) in advance.For more information: 610-376-1576; www.institute-of-arts.org● Get JazzEDHands-on educational workshopLocation: Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown UniversityTime: registration 12:30 p.m.; workshop 1 p.m.For more information: www.berksjazzfest.com/educational;www.berksjazzjam.com● Steve Smith Drum ClinicLocation: Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, Reading Crowne HotelTime: 1 p.m.For more information: www.berksjazzfest.com● Community Concert with Berks County All-Star Jazz Bandand Kutztown University Jazz I with KU Jazz FacultyLocation: Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown UniversityTime: 5 p.m.Admission: FREESunday, March 29● Jazz Worship: Jazz Combo & Big Band plus KutztownMiddle School Jazz BandLocation: St. John’s United Church of Christ, KutztownTime: 10 a.m.For more information: www.stjohnsucc.org; 610-683-8531● Worship Service: Reading High School CastleairesUnder the direction of Charlie DiCarneLocation: Grace Lutheran ChurchTime: 10:30 a.m.For more information: www.readinggrace.com; 610-375-3961Tuesday, March 31● United States Army Jazz Ambassadors Big band plus theBerks High School All-Star Jazz BandLocation: Reading Crowne HotelTime: 7:30 p.m.Admission: FREE with ticketSaturday, April 4● Workshop* prior to McCoy Tyner’s 7:30 p.m. performanceat the Miller Center for the ArtsWorkshop Admission: FREE* is part of a grant from American Masterpieces Program of the Mid-Atlantic Arts FoundationMichele Byrne-designed logo selected for use on festival merchandiseby ashley gellertberks arts council internEach year, the Berks Arts Council looks for anartist to design a unique logo for its VF OutletBerks Jazz Fest merchandise, which is suppliedby Lasting Image Promotional Products &Apparel.This year, that honor went to MicheleByrne, an artist from West Lawn. The four jazzmusicians in the logo were pulled from Byrne’spainting, “In Sync.”Byrne is well-known for “The Art of Conversation:”paintings through which Byrne capturesintimate moments of communication – amongfriends at restaurants or between a mother anddaughter at home – that might go unnoticed byothers.“Some of the most precious moments of mylife have been sitting and having conversationswith my friends and family,” says Byrne. “Thesemoments I never want to lose. The essenceof my paintings is an attempt to have thesemoments live forever. I call this the art of conversation.”Byrne also has published two books: “TheArt of Conversation” (2002) and “The Art ofConversation: Manhattan” (2006).Byrne’s artwork has been featured in nearly10 solo exhibitions and nearly 40 group andjuried exhibitions in Pennsylvania, Delaware, NewYork, Florida, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.Byrne’s awards include an Award of Excellenceat the Wayne Plein Air Festival in Wayne,and a People’s Choice Award and Award of Excellenceat Paint Annapolis (Md.), both in 2007.Byrne’s painting “The Jazz Singers” won firstplace in the recent Frank Scott Memorial ArtShow:The Art of Jazz.Byrne earned a bachelor’s degree in finearts and communication design, with a minor inillustration/painting from Kutztown University.For more information about Byrne’s accomplishmentsand art, visit her Web site at www.michelebyrne.com