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Western's Jazz Studio Orchestra (WIU/VPC Photo)
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JSO New York City Fundraiser May 8 at Macomb Country Club

April 22, 2010

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MACOMB, IL - - The Macomb Country Club will host a fundraiser Saturday, May 8 to help the Western Illinois University's premier jazz ensemble, the Jazz Studio Orchestra (JSO), with traveling expenses to New York City for an invited engagement with composer Marco Renzi and clarinetist Bepi D'Amato.

"Because so many people in the Macomb community have supported the jazz program, I'm excited to announce our talented students in JSO have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall over the Memorial Day weekend," said School of Music Professor John Cooper, who is director of jazz studies at Western.

Everyone in the Macomb and surrounding communities is invited to enjoy the facilities at the Country Club while being entertained by the Jazz Studio Orchestra and other students in jazz studies from 5-10 p.m. May 8 on the outside patio. Between 5-8 p.m. the Country Club will have giveaways every half hour. Admission, $20 per person, includes live jazz and a hors d'oeuvres buffet.

Renzi and D'Amato served as artists in-residence in April 2009 for the School of Music Jazz Studies program at Western, giving lectures and master classes, as well as conducting and performing in a combined WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra and Jazz Band concert.

"Maestros Renzi and D'Amato wanted to work with us again based on the wonderful performance that they gave in Macomb with the JSO and Jazz Band," Cooper said.

"Students did their own fundraising. Jerry and LaNae Reyburn, parents of JSO student Andrew Reyburn (junior, Geneseo, IL), committed a sizeable donation that has been matched by the IBM corporation, and there has been funding from other private resources, for which we are indeed grateful," he added. "But we still need more money to fully fund this incredible opportunity for the JSO to play at Carnegie Hall. I am so thankful the Macomb Country Club has generously offered this venue for the May 8 fundraiser.

"The members of the Country Club have enjoyed the cultural enrichment offered by our student performances on Thursday and Friday nights. Our students and faculty are grateful for this partnership and opportunity, as well as with the wonderful opportunity for monthly jam sessions at Café Aroma and the years of support we received from Paul Kirwin and the Secret Garden," Cooper said.

The Jazz Studio Orchestra's big band appearance with Renzi and D'Amato at Carnegie Hall is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday, May 30. Other groups scheduled to perform that evening are the 12th annual National Wind Ensemble, conducted by H. Robert Reynolds; and the Hart School of Music Wind Ensemble, conducted by Glen Adsit. For more information, see carnegiehall.org.

There is a YouTube video of Cooper talking about the JSO and the Macomb Country Club fundraiser at http://www.youtube.com/westernillinoisu. Click on "New York Fundraising Event."

For more information about the May 8 fundraiser, contact the Macomb County Club at (309) 833-2177.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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