'Jazz Up Your Day' on April 7 to Help Send MHS Jazz Band to NYC

As part of the “Dollars for Duke” campaign to send the Jazz Band to the competition at Lincoln Center, May 4 to 6, Jazz band members will be taking part in “Jazz ‘Round Town” on Saturday, April 7.

Members of the band will be giving public performances at various locations around Medfield on Saturday, April 7, kicking off with a 9:30 to 11 a.m. performance at . They will also be playing in front of from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and at from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last performance of the day will be at the Gazebo from noon to 1:30 p.m. All performances will take place rain or shine.

In keeping with the campaign theme, Jazz Band members will be using top hats to collect both cash and check donations at each “Jazz ‘Round Town” site. Checks must be made payable to Medfield Music Association.

To date, the association’s “Dollars for Duke” campaign has raised $3,000 toward its $12,000 goal to cover the Jazz Band’s trip to the Essentially Ellington competition. The estimated cost of the trip has increased from the originally anticipated $7,000 due to the need for an additional day of lodging and travel.

In addition to the funds raised for Essentially Ellington through the “Dollars for Duke” campaign, a portion of the proceeds from corporate sponsorships for the annual Jazz Night at Medfield High School on May 30 will also help to fund the trip.

The Medfield High School Jazz Band is only one of 15 high school bands chosen from across the U.S. and Canada to compete in Essentially Ellington, judged by jazz great Wynton Marsalis.

This is the second major competition for the jazz band in just a matter of months. .

Donation checks for the jazz band can also be mailed to Medfield Music Association, P.O. Box 115, Medfield, MA 02052. “Dollars for Duke” should be noted on the check.

For more information about “Dollars for Duke” and the Medfield Music Association, go to www.medfieldmusicassociation.com.

More About "Dollars for Dukes"

The Medfield Music Association launched its “Dollars for Duke” campaign to raise funds to help cover the anticipated $12,000 cost of the Medfield High School jazz band trip to New York City for the prestigious Essentially Ellington festival and competition May 4 to 6 at Lincoln Center in honor of jazz great Duke Ellington.

“Essentially Ellington is the Super Bowl of jazz competitions,” said Doug Olsen, Medfield music director. “Getting into Mingus and Ellington in the same year is a rarity, and a real testament to our students’ talents. We’re just hoping to garner additional support from the broader community to reduce the financial pressure on everyone due to the second trip down to New York City in a matter of a couple of months.”

The Essentially Ellington trip estimate covers bus transportation to and from New York City, and three nights of lodging for 22 members of the jazz band and chaperones for the weekend of May 4 to 6. There is no admission fee for the prestigious weekend festival and competition, in which only 15 bands from across the U.S. were selected to participate and will be judged by jazz great Wynton Marsalis. Students will also participate in a variety of educational workshops.

Medfield businesses, residents, MHS alumni, and Greater Boston music aficionados are all encouraged to contribute to the “Dollars for Duke” campaign to help send the Medfield High School jazz band to the Essentially Ellington competition. Medfield High School is the only New England-area band chosen to participate. For more information about the finalists, click on this link: http://wyntonmarsalis.org/news/entry/finalists-announced-17th-annual-essentially-ellington-2012.

Opportunities to provide support include:

• Supporting the jazz band at a special “Jazz ‘Round Town” day on Saturday, April 7. Locations include outside of Blue Moon, and other spots around Medfield. Confirmed locations will be listed on www.medfieldmusicassociation.com.

• Hosting your own “Dollars for Duke” event in which contributions can be earmarked for the Essentially Ellington trip.

• Donating or underwriting printing for a “Music Resource Guide” or purchasing ad space in the guide.

• Becoming an early-bird sponsor of the May 30 annual Jazz Night, to help the Medfield Music Association earmark funds for Essentially Ellington. Special sponsorship benefits are available at the $1,000 or greater level. Donations of auction items are also encouraged.

• Sending donations of any amount to the Medfield Music Association, P.O. Box 115, Medfield, MA 02052. Please be sure to write “Dollars for Duke” on the check.

Organizations and companies that have already come on board as campaign partners or contributors include the , Medfield Youth Action Committee, Emerson & Church Publishers and Blue Moon.