The Hilton School District Jazz Department and Hilton Music Boosters are presenting the 15th Annual Hilton Evening of Jazz on Friday, February 16, at 7 p.m. at Merton Williams Middle School, 200 School Lane, Hilton.
This year’s Evening of Jazz features trumpet player Allen Vizzutti, who has played around the country and around the world with the likes of Chick Corea, ‘Doc’ Severinsen, the NBC Tonight Show Band, Chuck Mangione, Jeff Tyzik and many more. A native of Montana, Vizzutti attended the Eastman School of Music on a full scholarship and earned the only Artist’s Diploma awarded to a wind player in Eastman’s 85-year history.
Vizzutti, who has taught domestically and abroad, is currently an Artist in Residency at the University of South Carolina. He, along with Nick Finzer, trombonist and Hilton 2005 graduate, will be holding master classes and workshops with Hilton music students on February 15 and 16.
Finzer will perform with the band during the Evening of Jazz. As a young musician, Finzer’s budding talent was recognized by Wycliffe Gordon who began a life-long mentorship by writing four pieces for the young Finzer while he attended the Eastman School of Music. Nick went on to get his masters at Juilliard’s prestigious jazz program where he was mentored by the trombone legend Steve Turre.
Diana Russo, Miss Finger Lakes 2018 and 2014 Hilton graduate, will be collecting monetary donations and radios the evening of the event. Russo’s platform is Memories Through Music, Alzheimer’s Awareness, and she has partnered with Jazz 90.1 to provide radios to Alzheimer’s patients in the Rochester area.
Tickets are $17 and also include performances by the Merton Williams Jazz Ensemble and Hilton High School Jazz Ensemble. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door; however, seating is limited. Groups purchasing 10 or more tickets may reserve a table. For pre-sale tickets, contact Jared Streiff at 392-1000, ext. 2293 or jstreiff@hilton.k12.ny.us. Proceeds benefit the Hilton Middle School and High School Jazz Departments and the Hilton Music Boosters.
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