Trumpeter Marcus Printup brought the jazzy notes of Duke Ellington to Byron Center High School before the mandatory shutdown, where he spent a full school day with the jazz band rehearsing classics such as “Dippermouth Blues” and “Kinda Dukish Rockin’ In Rhythm” by Duke Ellington.
The visit was part of the band’s work with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, an organization that hosts Essentially Ellington, a program and competition for high school bands.
The Jazz Band was selected from among hundreds of schools across the country to compete in Essentially Ellingtonin May. (The event has been postponed until further notice in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.)
Schools who qualify spend three days in New York City immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances.
Dianne Carroll Burdick has worked as a photojournalist in the West Michigan area since 1991. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she has photographed for The Grand Rapids Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Detroit Free Press, Advance Newspapers, Grand Rapids Magazine, BLUE Magazine and On-the-Town Magazine. She has been covering the many exciting and thought provoking stories of K-12 public education for School News Network since 2016.
Twins Christian and Xander both have big plans for the future, yet you won’t find them working together. We recently spoke with the pair about their (very individual) dreams and how their school is helping them get there.