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Crescent Super Band heading to Carnegie Hall

Submitted by the Caleb Chapman Music

Utah’s own Crescent Super Band, which includes many young Park City musicians, has rocked jazz clubs and concert halls from Tuscany to Los Angeles but is about to step into the biggest music arena of all when they perform next year in New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.

The news ignited a jubilant celebration at a recent band party and director Caleb Chapman called the opportunity "a once in a lifetime dream."

The invitation was extended by the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY), a production company known as a talent-incubator and star maker presenting world-class music entertainment. Jonathan Griffin, DCINY artistic director and principal conductor, said in his invitation to the band, the selection was based on the "quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the ensemble and the exceptional recommendation given by Mr. Chapman’s colleagues." It is the first time a high school ensemble from Utah will perform a full concert in the legendary hall. The performance is scheduled for May 21, 2013.

Chapman inquired if two additional bands associated with his program the Latin ensemble, La Onda Caribeña and the jump-swing band, the Voodoo Orchestra could also participate and DCINY granted approval.

Expenses and travel for the near 80 musicians and tour staff will run in excess of $300,000, according to Chapman, and he hopes Utahns will rise to the occasion and help defray the costs. Several fund raising concerts will be held over the next twelve months to raise money for the trip. Two donors Legacy Music Alliance and Merit Medical have already stepped up and made contributions. To learn more about how to donate go to http://www.calebchapmanmusic.com .

Said Chapman, "This is such a fantastic honor for the musicians and the state of Utah. I am blown away that on May 21 of 2013, dozens of communities from across the state will have someone from their town performing on the stage of the most famous concert venue in the world! This represents a major milestone in the history of our program."

Chapman is already thinking about the concert music, which will most likely include a tribute to many of the greats who have performed at Carnegie Hall.

Previously Chapman’s bands have performed at Jazz Festivals in Europe and Mexico as well as noted American music venues such as Berklee, Telluride and Park City, and Jazz Clubs in New York, Hollywood and Washington, D.C.

For over a decade, Caleb Chapman has been turning heads with his professional bands made up of young musicians aged 14-18. From funk to fusion and soul to swing, Caleb’s bands have played some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including recent performances in Sweden, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands,

They have worked with members of many of the most recognized bands on the planet – the Rolling Stones, the Dave Matthews Band, AC/DC, Tower of Power, Journey, and Genesis. Jazz icons like Joe Lovano, Nicholas Payton, Esperanza Spalding, Dave Weckl, Christian McBride, Stefon Harris, Bob Mintzer, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Randy Brecker, Lenny Pickett, Victor Wooten, and Peter Erskine also fill the list.

In 2011, Chapman was named the 2011 "John LaPorta International Jazz Educator of the Year" by Berklee College of Music and the Jazz Education Network. In 2007, he was honored as the inaugural inductee into the Horne School of Music Hall of Fame and received the "Superior Accomplishment in Music Award" from the Utah Music Educators Association. In 2010, Downbeat Magazine recognized the Crescent Super Band with their coveted "Downbeat Award" marking it as the best band in the country. The Crescent Super Band has received seven Best of State Medals, and two of the coveted Best of State Statue (BOSS) Awards, recognizing the program as the top organization in Utah’s Art and Entertainment category.


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