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| Rachel Jordan to head strings program at Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp The Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp announces that Violinist Rachel Jordan, a Professor of Violin at Jackson State University will lead the development of a strings program (violin, cello and viola) for the first time in the camp's existence. For nineteen seasons, Jazz Camp has been providing a first class music education experience to young people between the ages of 10 to 21 years old throughout the New Orleans area. Rachel, a member of the famed New Orleans musical Jordan family is also a member of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston, Texas, and a member of the Carter Quartet at Loyola University in New Orleans, has served as adjunct faculty at Xavier University, Southern University, and Dillard University in New Orleans. Ms. Jordan was also a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans for 12 years. "I am so happy about the addition of Strings to the Jazz Camp this summer. New Orleans has a great tradition of Strings in addition to Brass instruments. Jackie Harris, the camp's executive director has a great vision for the future of this summer camp. The expansion with the strings is a wonderful move. I'm so glad because I will be able to teach in my home town during the summer months. It also allows me to work with my father Kidd Jordan who serves as the Jazz Camp's musical director. There's so much potential here and I want to help develop the string component, " Jordan said. The 3-week camp runs from July 1 – 19, 2013 on the campus of Loyola University New Orleans in the Communications Center/Music Building. The program includes three weeks of intense music education classes Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and two weeks of swing dance from July 8 through July 19, 2013. Non-competitive audition for new students may be scheduled by calling Jo Ann Minor at 504-715-9295. More information may be found by visiting www.louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com. Former Tonight Show and Jay Leno Show musical director, national guitarist, Kevin Eubanks will serve as the 2013 artist-in-residence along with nationally recognized swing dance instructor Norma Miller. It has been a busy season for Rachel who splits her time between Jackson, Mississippi; Houston, Texas, and her hometown in New Orleans. "I am most proud of the progress made by the Jackson State University String Ensemble. During our annual spring concert this year, we presented Amy Thiaville's premiere of "Blues Ship" by Alvin Batiste; a violin concerto written for her by my Uncle. The JSU String Ensemble played so well; the best since I started conducting the ensemble. I truly believe that we are moving in the right direction with the Ensemble. I plan to present a New Orleans premiere of "Blues Ship" with the Music Alive Ensemble teamed with the JSU String Ensemble in the fall of 2013." Jordan adds that one of her most rewarding experiences was the JSU String Ensemble's performance at the Mississippi Children's Home Services; an emergency shelter and diagnostic and evaluation placement resource for abused, neglected, runaway, and homeless youth. "Earlier this year I was asked to bring music and a string program to this wonderful facility. We were so touched by the experience that Dr. David Akombo, Jackson State University's Director of Music Education and The Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Music and I will work to create a special program for next year at the facility." Rachel's personal schedule has been hectic as well, "Personally I've have been very active this year. In addition to my university work, I performed a solo recital at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center in Daytona, Florida with Dr. Rose Grace who serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Bethune-Cookman University. Dr. Grace is a Russian-born pianist who has concertized throughout the United States as a soloist and chamber music recitalist. Our performance featured works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Gabriel Urbain Fauré, Camille Saint-Sans, and a spiritual arrangement." Also this season, Jordan joined with the James Carter String Quartet in a free concert as part of the Montage Fine and Performing Arts Series at Loyola University New Orleans performing Franck Quintet and Shostakovich 7 quartet which according to Jordan "was a real challenge but fun." In addition to Rachel, performers included Bruce Owen, viola; Allen Nisbet, cello; and Amy Thiaville, violin. The quartet's name honors Loyola University New Orleans President Emeritus James Carter S.J., Ph.D., an avid supporter of the arts, particularly of Loyola's College of Music and Fine Arts. Jordan said that she looks forward to what is fast becoming a tradition with her production of the "Christmas with New Orleans Ladies of Jazz and the Music Alive Ensemble" holiday concert. Before the semester is over at JSU, Jordan is scheduled to perform with the 40-piece Houston-based River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. Featuring traditional classics by Mendelssohn and Respighi paired with bombastic drums; the ROCO season finale will be a blast for classical music aficionados and families alike. "This summer I have concerts scheduled with members of my family. Stephanie brings me along to play a few solos on her gigs. So I am busy and happy to be playing all this great music, adds Jordan." Rachel has also been intricately involved in the planning for the grand opening of the historic Carver Theater in New Orleans which is slated to open its doors to the public as a live performance hall on November 1, 2013. The Carver Complex will also house the Edward "Kidd" Jordan Institute of Jazz & Modern Music. The Institute, working in coordination with the Carver Theater will concentrate in the area of Modern Music, Movement, and Technology and provide educational opportunities in the arts for New Orleans elementary, middle and high school-aged youth. For more than 50 years, Kidd Jordan has educated musicians in the City of New Orleans while maintaining an active career as an international performer. Ms. Jordan received both her Bachelor of Music and her Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland where she studied with Berl Senofsky. Rachel has performed with her siblings for Jazz at Lincoln Center Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, as well as numerous concerts throughout the United States. Ms. Jordan also performs on and is the executive producer of the Marlon Jordan Featuring Stephanie Jordan CD titled "You Don't Know What Love Is." In addition, Ms. Jordan co-manages J Group Consulting, a family music management entity. Rachel has been a featured performer in numerous solo recitals, most notable the Kennedy Center, the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, Austria, the Music Center of Houston, the Mozart Festival in Washington, D.C. Jordan performed, "The Lark Ascending" with Jackson State University Orchestra for the Congressional Black Caucus Inaugural Ceremony of President Barack Obama. While at Dillard University, Rachel Jordan started the Jesse Dent Recital series, which featured African American Musicians performing classical music. She also produced the annual "An Afternoon of Classical Music"; a chamber music series sponsored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Links and a fully staged Jazz concert entitled "Stephanie with Strings." Jordan is also the founder and artistic director of the Music Alive Ensemble which she created in 2001, a classical and jazz ensemble of musicians, composers, and arrangers. Music Alive Ensemble through its concerts perpetuates cultural diversity and finds common ground through collaboration. Music Alive Ensemble presented annual concerts at the UNO Performing Arts Center with funding from 2001-2005 until Hurricanes Katrina hit New Orleans, MAE returned in 2008 with its holiday programming of Christmas with the New Orleans of Jazz and Music Alive Ensemble at the UNO Performing Arts Center with partial funding it received from The Jazz & Heritage Foundation. In 2011, Rachel produced “I Saw Three Ships, ” a holiday CD which features Germaine Bazzle, Leah Chase, and Stephanie Jordan performing with Music Alive Ensemble. Rachel is the fifth performer from a family of New Orleans bred musicians. She is the daughter of saxophonist Edward “Kidd” Jordan. Siblings include flutist Kent, trumpeter Marlon, and vocalist Stephanie Jordan. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |