When the Fort 91原创 Jazz and Arts Festival (FLJAF) returns for two full days of live music in July, an up-and-coming jazz musician will be featured as the festival鈥檚 Rising Star award winner.
Festival organizers established the annual award in 2019 鈥渢o recognize an outstanding jazz student who demonstrates a high level of performance ability and is pursuing a professional career in jazz music.鈥�
The Rising Star award winner will be given an opportunity to perform with a main stage artist on Saturday, July 25 during the festival and in their own featured paid performance on Sunday, July 26.
They will also receive a scholarship of $1,000.
Dave Quinn, artistic director for the festival, said they are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity for an emerging jazz student.
鈥淥ne of our key mandates is to support youth and emerging artists and the award is a wonderful opportunity for an up and coming jazz student to perform with and be mentored by established artists, while also receiving financial support for their education,鈥� Quinn said.
Last year鈥檚 inaugural award winner, Julian Borkowski, a Surrey resident and second-year music student at Capilano University at the time, said the recognition 鈥渋s a great opportunity for me to expose myself musically.鈥�
Award submissions are open to all secondary and post-secondary music students from the Metro Vancouver area until March 31, 2020 on the .
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For 2020, the festival will be held from July 24 to 26, offering free concerts on two outdoor stages with world-renowned jazz acts on the Saturday and Sunday, along with four nighttime concerts for ticket holders.
Featured genres include straight-ahead jazz, R&B, big band, New Orleans, funk and Latin jazz, plus an all-star blues show at Fort 91原创 National Historic Site and a Roaring 20鈥檚 gala dance that will recreate the Cotton Club with a big band and Cab Calloway singer.
The festival is also adding a new ticketed concert series called the 鈥淎rt of Jazz鈥� that will feature innovative and creative jazz acts in an intimate concert setting.
Organizers are also expanding the art side of the festival with an outdoor painting challenge, a student art exhibit, artist vendor areas and Indigenous artist workshops and demonstrations.
鈥淭here will be something for every jazz fan,鈥� Quinn stated. 鈥淲e鈥檒l also have four pop-up performance stages around the community featuring youth and emerging jazz acts, Jazz Around Town performances at restaurants and a Kidz Zone area and stage.鈥�
Tickets for all shows will go on sale in April at .
The full band lineup and all other festival activities will be announced in April.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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