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The Monk Institute of Jazz brings Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Nnenna Freelon to Vietnam |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Friday, 18 November 2005 |
 Herbie Hancock, Institute Chairman
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will tour Vietnam November
22-30 under a Cultural and Speakers program sponsored by the U.S.
Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs and
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi,
and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. The tour will
commemorate the 10th anniversary of normalization of U.S.-Vietnam
diplomatic relations. World renowned jazz pianist and composer
Herbie Hancock will lead a group of jazz artists, which include
legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, internationally
acclaimed vocalist Nnenna Freelon, and the eight gifted young jazz
musicians who attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance
at the University of Southern California.
The group’s appearances in Ho Chi Minh City will include a “Jazz
Thanksgiving” concert at the U.S. Consulate General’s Residence for
leaders in the diplomatic, business, and cultural communities; a master
class for students at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music; and a
performance at the Ben Thanh Theatre. In Hanoi, the group will
lead a master class for jazz students at the Hanoi Conservatory of
Music; perform for diplomats and cultural figures at the U.S. Embassy;
lead a jam session at Minh’s Jazz Club; and perform at the Youth
Theatre.
 Photo by Andrea Canter
“We are once again delighted to work with the Thelonious Monk Institute
of Jazz to present such an exciting outreach program to the Vietnamese
people on this important occasion. I am particularly pleased that
we have the next generation of jazz talent from the Institute at the
University of Southern California touring with today's jazz masters,
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Nnenna Freelon,” said Karen P.
Hughes, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in
the U. S. Department of State.
According to Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, “The Thelonious Monk
Institute of Jazz is devoted to introducing people around the world to
the uniquely American art form of jazz. We look forward to
sharing this music with the people of Vietnam in the spirit of peace
and partnership.”
Rob Cutietta, Dean of the Flora L. Thornton School of Music at the
University of Southern California remarked, “This is a great
opportunity for our students to represent the University, the Institute
and the U.S. jazz community on this educational and performance tour of
Vietnam."
The Vietnam tour builds on the Institute’s longstanding partnership
with the U.S. Department of State. In the early part of 1995, the
Institute and the United States Information Agency sponsored a six week
tour that took a group of Thelonious Monk International Jazz
Competition winners to seven African nations to perform and conduct
educational programs. The Institute worked with the United States
Information Agency again in March 1996 to present a tour of India and
Thailand, and for a third time in 1998, conducting a tour of Chile,
Argentina, and Peru. A highlight of the 1998 trip was a
performance at the Summit of the Americas for 34 heads of state from
North America, South America, and Central America. This
partnership continued in 2001 when the U.S. Department of State
sponsored a tour of Egypt. In 2002, 2003, and 2004, the United
Nations sponsored a tour of Paris, where the Institute’s college
students performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves,
Dee Dee Bridgewater, and T.S. Monk at an “International Day of
Philosophy” event presented by UNESCO.
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (www.monkinstitute.org) was
established in 1986 with a mission to preserve America's legacy of jazz
through performance and education. The Institute offers the
world's most promising young musicians college level training by
America's jazz masters and presents public school-based jazz education
programs for young people around the world. Additionally, the
Institute provides scholarships, performance opportunities, and
worldwide recognition to gifted young musicians through its many jazz
education programs.
Begun in 1995, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the
University of Southern California is an intensive two-year graduate
level college program that enables a select group of the world's most
gifted young musicians to study tuition-free with major jazz musicians
and educators. Acclaimed trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard
serves as the program’s Artistic Director. Jazz legends who have
served as Artists-in-Residence include Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry,
Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, Jackie McLean, Dave Holland, Steve Turre,
John Scofield, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ron Carter, and Jimmy
Heath. This performance-based program is expected to become the
model college jazz education program for the world. |
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 Friday, 21 November 2008
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