TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS GET CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

Apr 28, 2016 /

Charlotte, NC (Thursday, April 28, 2016) – The first and second place winners of the 2016 Loonis McGlohon Young Jazz Artists Competition, Veronica Leahy of Charlotte Latin School and Ariel Mejia of South Mecklenburg High School, were invited to play with the critically-acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the musical direction of Wynton Marsalis during the Charlotte Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 23.

The youth competition, which was adjudicated by members of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, took place at Stage Door Theater on Saturday afternoon, where regional jazz talent competed for college scholarships in amounts of $1500, $1000 and $500, provided by the Leon Levine Foundation. Veronica Leahy on saxophone (1st place), Ariel Mejia on trumpet (2nd place), and Rachel Bettendorf on guitar (3rd place) gave outstanding performances.

“We were blown away by the level of talent from all of the young musicians competing this year,” explained Blumenthal Director of Education Ralph Beck. “We were proud to give these students the chance to perform in front of some of the world’s best musicians, but then to find out Veronica and Ariel would be invited to play during the main stage show that night? No one expected that! These two students couldn’t have done a better job. It was hard to believe we were listening to ninth graders play these instruments.”

The world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis took the stage at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts on Saturday evening for Music of the Masters. Leahy and Mejia, both freshman in high school, were called to the stage to play with the orchestra during the final piece in front of a packed house at the sold out performance.