VJC 7th Emerging Artist Festival

The Vermont Jazz Center presents the 7th Emerging Artist Festival on Friday & Saturday, November 1- 2, 2024.

The event begins with youth jazz ensembles at 118 Elliot Gallery Friday, November 1, & continues at the Vermont Jazz Center Saturday, November 2 with student groups starting 11:00 AM.

All events are open to the public & free to youth attendees. Donations to the VJC Scholarship Fund are encouraged.

Ms. Nkwelle’s concert will also be livestreamed. Students are participating from areas of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Please come and support your local young musicians and their excitement for jazz music!

Ekep Nkwelle presents a masterclass 4 PM Saturday followed by a concert with her quartet: Ekep Nkwelle, vocals; Luther Allison, piano; Liany Mateo, bass; Anwar Marshall, drums.

Ekep Nkwelle, a 24-year-old Cameroonian-American jazz vocalist, has carved her musical path from Washington, DC, to New York City- from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, to Howard University, to Julliard’s graduate program in jazz.

Nkwelle has sung with jazz luminaries including Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Washington, Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens.

She has performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in iconic venues nationwide including Radio City Music, the Library of Congress, Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, & the Strathmore & performed at Newport, Montclair, Hudson, & DC jazz festivals.

In 2023 Nkwelle was nominated by Wynton Marsalis to receive the Juilliard Career Advancement Grant; this recognition was followed by her performance on NPR’s “Tiny Desk.”

Ms. Nkwelle was chosen by Dee Dee Bridgewater to participate in her exclusive, all-women artistic residency, The Woodshed Network. As one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s newest rising stars, Ekep Nkwelle is poised to shape the future of jazz.

Sponsored by Julian Gerstin & Carlene Raper
In-person tickets for the Nov. 2nd featured artist concert are offered on a sliding fee scale from $25 to $60, all seating is general admission.

Tickets for participating students are free of charge.

In-person tickets available online at www.vtjazz.org, & by calling the  ticket line at 802-254-9088, ext. 1.
Contact Eugene at eugene@vtjazz.org for educational group discounts.

Access assistance with elevator, ramps & seating available. Please call 802-254-9088 ext. 2 & leave a message with phone number & estimated arrival time.

The online streaming of this event is open to the public. We ask those tuning in to donate to support the costs of providing world-class music and educational programs at the VJC.

Access to the live stream can be found on our website and our Facebook page.

www.vtjazz.org
72 Cotton Mill Hill #222
Brattleboro VT 05301