2nd Annual Albemarle High School Jazz Band “Swing into Spring” Benefit Concert

Award-Winning Ensemble to Be Joined by Roster of Leading Local Musicians
Proceeds to Support Upcoming Trip to Prestigious Swing Central Jazz Competition in Savannah, Georgia

The nationally-acclaimed Albemarle High School (AHS) Jazz Band is gearing up for its 2nd annual “Swing into Spring” benefit concert at the Jefferson Theater! The event will feature the band performing a set list full of jazz standards and pop/R&B hits that span decades and are bound to get people on their feet. And as a special treat for local music lovers, the evening will feature an all-star cast of the area’s top musicians sitting in with the ensemble including: Adar, John D'earth, Charles Owens, Stephanie Nakasian, Terri Allard, Bill Allard, Barbara Edwards, Madeline Holly-Sales, Berto Sales, Danny Barrale, Davina Jackson, Taylor Barnett, John Kelly, Ryan Lee, Lydie Omesiette, Moasia Jackson, and Michael Elswick.

The award-winning AHS Ensemble, under the direction of Greg Thomas, has for decades earned high-profile regional and national recognition for its consistent dedication to excellence, and for its unwavering respect and love for this uniquely American art form.The group, which recently took top honors at the prestigious Essentially Ellington regional competition at Shenandoah Conservatory, is raising funds again to travel to Savannah, Georgia, where it is one of only 12 high school jazz bands from across America chosen to participate in April's prestigious Swing Central Jazz competition at the Savannah Music Festival. The event will include two days of clinics with some of the leading jazz musicians and instructors in the United States and will conclude with a juried competition against a who’s who of high school bands, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Big Band. According to Marcus Roberts, a world-renowned musician and associate director of the festival, the bands that have been accepted to Swing Central “represent the best in high school jazz in America today." 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to interact with and play for some of the finest jazz musicians in the world today,” Thomas said. “Their selection is a testament to their incredible commitment to this music, to this program, and to each other, and we thought this event would be a great way to share their gifts with the community.”

Thomas and musician/WHTJ PBS show host, Terri Allard, will again emcee the event. 

Thank you to our event sponsors:
Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, Charlottesville
Jazz Society, Crutchfield
and Plow and Hearth.

Donations may be mailed to: AHS Band Boosters, 2775 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Donations may also be made on the Jefferson Theater event ticketing page.