Reminder: Edmonds Jazz Connection to showcase local high school musicians May 9

The sound of jazz will fill the streets of Edmonds Saturday, May 9 as the Edmonds Jazz Connection returns for another full day of music, community and inspiration. This free event — hosted by the Rotary Club of Edmonds Daybreakers — celebrates the talent of high school jazz musicians from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Held annually at the end of the school year with more than 3,000 attendees, the Edmonds Jazz Connection is a musical encore for students who have spent months honing their craft. Many of these young performers have competed nationally and earned high honors. This event offers them one more opportunity to shine and perform side-by-side with professional musicians for an enthusiastic hometown crowd.

Two downtown Edmonds venues will host performances throughout the day:

– The Old Edmonds Opera House (big bands and choirs), 515 Dayton St., starting at 8 a.m.
– The Edmonds Theater (jazz combos), 415 Main St., starting at 9 a.m.

While the principal goal of the event is to connect the community with its student jazz musicians, this event is pivotal for raising funds that directly support school music programs and students, Daybreakers Rotary said. Although admission is free, the club has a goal of raising $45,000 through donations to support this effort.

“We work in partnership with the school district leadership and choral and band directors to identify the most pressing needs of school music programs, then we provide the funding, volunteer hours and other support to ensure the success of these initiatives,” the club said.

This year’s effort has four primary areas of focus:

• Scholarships for student musicians continuing their education at a college, university or trade school
• Promote and expand middle and high school female jazz bands
• Classroom grants that support music education
• Clinician sessions for each program in the district. Clinics provide an opportunity for each jazz ensemble to meet regularly with professional musicians to build improvisational musical skills

You can see a complete schedule of performances at each venue here.