Jerry Bergonzi at Kerr Cultural Center

renowned tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi will be joining our ensembles on Monday May 8th at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale for a free performance that is open to the public. “Jerry Bergonzi is a fantastic saxophonist and truly understands jazz at its core. We are thrilled that he will be working with our students and performing with them as well. This is such a unique opportunity for Young Sounds members”, said Director Andrew Gross.

The weekend will include a Master Class with Bergonzi that is also free and open to the public. “We love the idea of providing the opportunity to learn from Mr. Bergonzi to jazz students throughout the valley”, stated Gross. “Music is about community and this is a great opportunity for the community to come together and engage in jazz”. Each year Young Sounds invites a guest artist to work with the students in an effort to broaden their understanding of jazz and give them the experience of studying and performing with professional musicians. The guest artist program has become a favorite among Young Sounds’ members....

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renowned tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi will be joining our ensembles on Monday May 8th at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale for a free performance that is open to the public. “Jerry Bergonzi is a fantastic saxophonist and truly understands jazz at its core. We are thrilled that he will be working with our students and performing with them as well. This is such a unique opportunity for Young Sounds members”, said Director Andrew Gross.

The weekend will include a Master Class with Bergonzi that is also free and open to the public. “We love the idea of providing the opportunity to learn from Mr. Bergonzi to jazz students throughout the valley”, stated Gross. “Music is about community and this is a great opportunity for the community to come together and engage in jazz”. Each year Young Sounds invites a guest artist to work with the students in an effort to broaden their understanding of jazz and give them the experience of studying and performing with professional musicians. The guest artist program has become a favorite among Young Sounds’ members.

Admission to the concert is free as part of Young Sounds’ commitment to community outreach. Young Sounds is also accepting donations to their scholarship fund. Each year scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate a commitment to their musical studies (which includes dedication to rehearsals and performances), who demonstrate a strong technical ability and passion for their art and who wholeheartedly understand the value of teamwork. Young Sounds relies on generous donations and grants to make these scholarships available.

Mr. Bergonzi is looking forward to the event as well. “Young musicians have their fingers in the pulse of music and I am looking forward to working with the Young Sounds students to try to hear what they are hearing", he stated. The concert will include a performance with Mr. Bergonzi in a quartet made up of valley favorites including ASU Senior Lecturer and Jazz Drum Set instructor Dom Moio, award winning pianist Nick Manson and accomplished bassist Chris Finet, Assistant Professor of Practice at NAU. Bergonzi’s career has spanned 4 decades and is still going strong. He attended Lowell University and later, freelanced in New York. From 1979–1982 he toured the world as a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He has taught private lessons and improvisation to instrumentalists and vocalists at the New England Conservatory of Music since 1995. He has played and recorded regularly, always creating innovative music that swings.

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