Brick City Jazz Orchestra Debuts at Cherry Blossom Festival

The Brick City Jazz Orchestra, featuring 19 of the most talented teenage jazz players in the Greater Newark, area received the extraordinary opportunity to heighten their skills as musicians and band mates on Sunday, April 15, 2014 at the Newark Cherry Blossom Festival.    

As NJPAC’s newest arts education initiative, this 19-piece BCJO collaboration between NJPAC and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, allowed the students to collaborate as performing artists and serve as cultural ambassadors for both Newark and the State of New Jersey, touring both regionally and nationally. 

BCJO is led by some of the world’s most respected jazz artists and educators including James Burton III, conductor of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and associate conductor of Wynton Marsalis’ new Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Star Orchestra.  

Internationally acclaimed Grammy-nominated vibraphonist Stefon Harris serves as artist-in-residence, providing artistic leadership and instruction in jazz theory.  In addition to teaching musicianship, the faculty provides sectional support and mentoring of the young musicians on their art, professionalism and life choices.