Penfield Jazz Concerts Celebrate 55 Years of Musical Excellence
A musical tradition at Penfield Central School Districts celebrates 55 years this month as Marshall Gilkes, one of the world’s preeminent trombonists, spends three days mentoring and teaching students. Gilkes’ residency culminates in a two-night concert event that will feature newly commissioned works performed by students from across the District’s elementary, middle, and high school music programs.
Night one begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, and features the Bay Trail 6th Grade Jazz Band, 7th/8th Grade Jazz Band, PHS Jazz Democracy, and PHS Jazz Choir. Night two—7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25—features the PHS Jazz Ensemble, District-wide Trombone Ensemble, and PHS Studio Orchestra. Both concerts take place at Penfield High School Auditorium (25 High School Drive). Individual tickets for each night, which are $10 for students and $15 for adults, can be purchased online or at the door.
A tradition that began in 1971, the Penfield Jazz Fundraiser Concerts are the primary fundraiser for the Penfield Music Commission Project (PMCP), which supports music education across the District. Over the last 50 years, PMCP has funded residency visits from renowned musicians including Max Roach (drums), Clark Terry (trumpet), Jeff Coffin (saxophone), and Darmon Meader (saxophone), among others.
What makes the program so unique is that the PMCP also commissions original pieces to be performed at each concert. John Rolland, K-12 Music Department Chair, works closely with arrangers who write music tailored to the students and the specific instrumentation of each ensemble. Since the 1980s, PMCP has commissioned more than 400 works for its students and resident artists.
This year, Gilkes will bring his vast experience in both the jazz and classical worlds to Penfield, sharing his warm and enveloping tone, Herculean chops, astounding flexibility, and awe-inspiring range with students and concert audiences. Crafting eight albums since 2004, Gilkes has touched on a variety of settings including the compact trio, quartet and quintet formats, a merging of brass octet and jazz combo, and big band. Drawing heavy praise in the process, including a pair of Grammy nominations, he’s cemented his reputation as a composer and leader of great renown.
Gilkes’ lengthy résumé includes work performing and/or recording with bassist Carlos Henriquez, harpist Edmar Castañeda, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Slide Monsters, bassist Richard Bona, pianist Makoto Ozone, and numerous other top-tier musicians and outfits. And through his work with the WDR Big Band and as a longtime member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Gilkes has played himself into the rich history of large ensemble music.
At various points in his career, Gilkes has served on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and next, Rochester’s own Eastman School of Music. In addition, he’s shared his knowledge and skills through master classes, clinics, guest appearances, and teaching at other venerable institutions including the Banff Center, University of North Texas, the Brubeck Institute, Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music, and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. An S. E. Shires Artist, Gilkes performs on his signature model trombone—an instrument as versatile as its inspiration.