Mary Morton Parsons Jazz Masters
The VCU Mary Morton Parsons Jazz Masters from left,
Victor Dvoskin, Tony Martucci, Skip Gailes
and Mike Ess.
The Mary Morton Parsons Jazz Masters are a group of jazz musicians who are adjunct faculty in the Jazz Studies Program at VCU. As the Jazz Masters they provide jazz instruction and appreciation for elementary, middle and high school students throughout Richmond and beyond.
The mission of the Jazz Masters is to acquaint children with jazz. They present solo and group sessions as requested by schools: workshops, concerts, master classes and one-on-one instruction. These activities are funded by a permanent endowment that was donated by patrons of jazz through a challenge grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation.
“VCU’s Jazz Studies program has produced some excellent musicians. Being able to study and visit with several of these professionals helped to rejuvenate my creativity and support me as I continued my studies.”
— Colin Killalea, former student
Hear and see VCU Jazz faculty members Skip Gailes (sax), Rex Richardson (trumpet), Antonio García (trombone), Mike Ess (guitar), Tony Martucci (drums), and VCU Jazz alumnus Rusty Farmer (bass) perform several tunes for VCU TV/HD. The clip begins approximately 25 minutes into the video.
If you are interested in bringing the VCU Jazz Masters to your community, contact Skip Gailes.
The VCU Jazz Masters holds an outreach concert and performs with students at Western Albemarle High School in May 2008.
