(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shawn Personke for the information in this story.)
The 2014-15 Kaleidoscope Concert series will end on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m., with group of jazz virtuosos that have wowed audiences all over the country — the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz.
Performing a bit of everything from the jazz canon, including standards, jazz classics, and original compositions, the members of the Professors of Jazz perform internationally, nationally, and locally to support Michigan jazz presenters and educators. Since its inception in 2000, the group has completed residencies at the Detroit Symphony Hall, the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, and the East Lansing Jazz Festival. The group has performed in concert with several notable international jazz artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, and Marcus Belgrave.
The group includes Rodney Whitaker as musical director and on bass, Xavier Davis, piano, Randy “Uncle G” Gelispie on drums, Michael Dease, trombone, Diego Rivera on saxophone, Etienne Charles, trumpet, and the acclaimed Randy Napoleon on jazz guitar.
“It’s going to be a great concert,” said Shawn Personke, director of wellness and public relations for Silver Maples of Chelsea. “I saw them perform at the East Lansing jazz festival a few years ago, and they were so good. Such a great mix of standards and classic jazz. They are an incredible group of musicians.”
The concert is free, but donations are requested to help support the music series for the 2014-15 season. Silver Maples and the Chelsea Senior Center sponsor the Kaleidoscope Concert series.
This annual fundraiser concert will also be co-sponsored by the Chelsea Community Foundation, who will also match all funds raised at the concert. The concert will be held at the Washington Street Education Center auditorium, 500 Washington St.
“Each year, we hold this spring concert to help raise funds for the next year’s concerts. We’re so excited that the Chelsea Community Foundation has stepped up to match all donations received from the general public, up to $2,000,” Personke added.
The Chelsea Community Foundation will host a Pre-Concert Reception with refreshments at 6:15 p.m. The foundation board is made up for community members, including Pete Feeney, Anne Merkel, Art Dils, John Daniels, Dennis Doan, John Dunn, Maribeth Hammer, Will Johnson, Anne Mann, Mike Mitchell, Dave Schaible, and Warren Widmayer, many of whom will be on hand to talk about the concert, the Foundation’s mission, and the other ways the foundation helps to build community in Chelsea.
Free transportation is available to residents who reside within the city limits. Reservations for a ride can be made by calling 475-4111. The concert is open to all members of the community and donations are requested to help fund the concert series.
For more information about the Kaleidoscope Concert series, call Silver Maples at 475-4111 or the Chelsea Senior Center at 475-9242.
For a full calendar of events in the Chelsea area, please click here.
