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High School Musicians Host Fundraising Concerts

Mayjo

High school students who are a part of MAYJO plan to perform in San Diego in January

OMAHA - A group of talented high school musicians will be hosting two concerts this month in order to help cover the costs of performing at a highly competitive conference in San Diego next month.

The pair of concert will be performed by the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra (MAYJO), a program organized by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) which regularly brings together talented jazz performers from high schools across Nebraska and Iowa.

Recently, MAYJO was selected out of hundreds of competing bands to perform at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. The concerts are being held in order to help cover travel costs.

"It is a huge honor to be selected to perform at the JEN Conference," explained MAYJO Director Pete Madsen, who is also director of Jazz Studies at UNO. "These students will be representing the entire states of Nebraska and Iowa on an international stage. It will be a great experience for them to perform and also to attend clinics and performances by some of the greatest jazz musicians and educators in the world."

The first concert will take place Thursday, Dec. 18, at OZONE, 7220 F St., next to Anthony’s Steakhouse from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no charge to attend, but a donation of $5 - $10 is encouraged.

The second concert will take place Friday, Dec. 19, at Eagles Lodge at 24th and Douglas Streets, as part of the Omaha Jitterbugs Dance. The concert will take place from 9 p.m. through midnight following Swing Dance lessons being offered at 8 p.m.

Cost to attend the Dec. 19 concert is $10 at the door.

As part of MAYJO, students not only perform regularly at events across the region, but also receive personalized instruction from UNO faculty and professional musicians – both from Omaha and visiting guests from across the world.

The JEN was formed in 2008 in Chicago and is focused on advancing education, promoting performance and developing new audiences for one of America’s most storied musical styles.

This year’s JEN conference will feature dozens of concerts, workshops and presentations. Special guests this year include Herbie Hancock, Gordon Goodwin’s Big PHAT Band and Poncho Sanchez.

For more information, please contact Charley Reed, UNO media relations coordinator, at 402.554.2129 or unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

 Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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