VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music jazz students will perform in the inaugural Jazz 4 Justice© concert presented by the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation to support local pro bono legal assistance to those in need and to provide scholarships for VCU jazz students.

The concert takes place Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. in the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave., immediately followed by an informal jam session with audience members. A reception at 7 p.m. precedes the event.  

VCU Jazz Orchestra I and II, Africa Combo and vocal ensemble "What's the Ti?" will perform, with VCU faculty Antonio Garcia, Bryan Hooten and Rebecca Tyree directing. Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton will serve as a guest director of VCU Jazz Orchestra I.

The pairing of jazz with a social justice cause is not lost on Garcia, director of Jazz Studies at VCU.

“Justice for all is a never-ending quest, and pro bono legal work is a critical part of that journey,” Garcia said. “While many genres could be a match, jazz is ideal because of its ongoing link to social justice in particular. … And in general, a goal of our jazz program at large is to educate our students that being an artist is more than simply gathering attractive notes of music. As a performer or composer, you have to find your voice; you have to have something to say. And, if in the minority view, you must be willing to pay the price for what you've said.”

Jazz 4 Justice© began in 2001 through a partnership with the Fairfax Law Foundation and George Mason University’s Jazz Ensemble. Since then, other localities around the country have introduced their own concerts to benefit their communities.

Tickets are $30 for the general public and $15 for VCU students and are available at http://www.showclix.com/event/3898593. Audience members who play smaller instruments should bring their own if they wish to sit in at the end of the concert. VCU will provide house rhythm-section instruments.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to make a charitable contribution, email aroussy@grbf.org or visit www.grbf.org.