Friends of the Denver School of the Arts

Want to join me in making a difference for uber talented Denver Public School students?  We're raising money for Denver School of the Arts Jazz Workshop Orchestra to go to NYC and compete in this year's Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival!  Out of over 120 national submissions Denver School of the Arts (DSA) Jazz Workshop Orchestra (JWO) was selected to be one of only 15 bands to have the honor to go to New York and compete at the Jazz at Lincoln Center to see who is number one!  This contest was the brain child of, and is hosted by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.   DSA JWO will represent you, Denver Public Schools, the city of Denver and Colorado in this national contest!

Denver School of the Arts is a PUBLIC school and does not fund trips and many of our students cannot afford the price of airfare, hotel, food and activities in NYC.  So, we have to raise enough money so the entire band of 20 students (and 1 director) can go and compete at the highest level at the same time learning important lessons in music from some of the best jazz musicians walking around on the planet today!

Week 1 of the Preparation:
Watch the band on this Channel 4 story and feel the passion!
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/02/19/denver-school-arts-jazz-band/

Week 2 of the Preparation:
The band had an awesome time at the University of Denver in a Master Class with Delfeayo Marsalis (Wynton's brother).  He is, as all the Marsalis brothers and father Ellis, a jazz master with insightful, mindful teaching skills.  Thanks to DU for putting this together!  It does take a village to raise a jazz band!  Thank you (again!) Delfeayo!!!!  Pictures below!!

Week 3  of the Preparation
This week featured a Full Orchestra trip to Albuquerque, NM for the American String Teachers Association National Conference.  How is this important to Essentially Ellington you ask?  The Denver School of the Arts performed a challenging and inclusive program that featured one of Duke Ellington's masterful works for Orchestra called Three Black Kings.  Anytime you have a chance to perform (or listen to) the major orchestral works of Ellington its an amazing time!  The orchestra also won 1st place in the Full Orchestra category!  For the jazz students involved it gives more perspective of this amazing American jazz hero.  

Denver School of the Arts is a DPS public school for 6th through 12th graders who have a passion for art. DSA's Video Cinema Arts (VCA) program is a comprehensive filmmaking program that teaches every aspect of film and video production- from screenwriting to festival submission. Students gain skills that are useful inside and outside of the film and media industry- writing, collaboration, a variety of tecnical and computer skills, and many more . This program offers a diverse group of students the opportunity to follow their passions, develop their creativity and prepare for adult life. Unfortunately, with funding for public schools and the arts down, VCA has become more reliant on donations from people like you.

We’re asking for help to support the following three aspects of our program that are not funded by DPS: equipment, artists-in-residents, and travel.

By choosing to donate, you are directly helping a program that supports young filmmakers who wish to follow their passions. Video Cinema Arts thanks you for your support and interest in our program!