Presentations

We are now accepting requests for the 2010-2011 school year for in-school educational music presentations in the Cincinnati (OH), Covington (KY) and Newport (KY) city public schools, as well as the Columbus (OH) city public schools. 

We are also now accepting requests for the 2011-2012 school year for in-school educational music presentations in the Columbus (OH) city public schools. 

All we need is an email from the principal or music teacher of the school to get things started.

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We won a grant from ArtsWave !!! 

This $1500 grant will pay Cincinnati Cotton Club and King Recording Studio living legends Philip Paul, Ed Conley & Roland Ashby to lead the first five weeks of our new weekly "Music Mentors" program.  This will be primarily promoted within the Cincinnati, Covington and Newport city public elementary schools, but is open to the public.  It will be held starting May 15, 2011 on Sundays from 3:30-5:30p at The Blue Wisp at  318 East Eight Street in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.  By Ohio law, parents/guardians must accompany anyone under 21.  Children can perform with the musicians or choose to just watch.  The public is welcome to attend and participate.  Children and adults with children are admitted free.  Adults without children have a $10 cover charge.  We hope to run this through the summer, but only have funds for the first 5 weeks right now.  Any suggestions for funding sources would be greatly appreciated.

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On Saturday, March 12, 2011, the 1st annual "Cincinnati Elementary Music Festival" is being planned at College Hill Fundamental Academy in their newly remodeled auditorium (photo below). Students will be selected from many CPS elementary schools to train with a professional ensemble and then perform with them, all between 4:30-7:30p that day. World-renowned jazz sax artist Greg Abate has graciously agreed to perform with an all-star group we are arranging. CCM professors Phil DeGreg, Marc Fields and Art Gore have already confirmed, as have Phil Bowden, Wade Baker, Steve Magas, Sean Fitzpatric, Randy Villars, Ben Walkenhauer, Eric Campbell and vocalists Bekah Williams and Rick "Bam" Powell.  We're working on making it a fifteen piece group all together.  More details as soon as we can...

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We did our first Columbus, Ohio in-school presentation partnering with the Columbus Blues Alliance at Eastmoor Academy High School on Friday, January 28, 2011.  Sean Carney (winner of the 2006 International Blues Challenge), Sax legend Gene "King Saxe" Walker, Eric Blume and Steve Perakis did a Blues history presentation for about 200 students.

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Todd Hepburn performed two solo piano presentations on African American music history at Linden Grove School  on January 25, 2011.

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Philip Paul, Mike Scharfe,  Wade Baker and Phil DeGreg performed a jazz quartet performance at Pleasant Ridge Montessori  on January 24, 2011 at 1:15p. The Michael Bany Foundation donated a nice, complete drum set with upgraded Zildjian cymbals (& a GREAT price from Buddy Rogers Music !!!). Philip Paul used them, autographed them and we gave them to the school for their kids to use. We're going to work on a grant to get a set for all the elementary schools.

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Philip Paul, Mike Scharfe, Steve Schmidt and  Wade Baker performed a jazz quartet performance at Sands Montessori  on January 18, 2011 for 250 students ages 10 thru 12.  It went so well, we'll be back in May for ages 6 thru 9.  The students in the background performed C Jam Blues (in b flat) with the band and had an incredible experience.

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Philip Paul, Ed Conley, Steve Schmidt and Wade Baker performed a jazz quartet presentation at Walnut Hills High School on Tuesday, November 30, 2010.  As you can tell from this picture, they were all having a great time.  And, yes, that's Philip's wife Juanita sitting in front enjoying the lesson.

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Philip Paul, Ed Conley, Steve Schmidt and Wade Baker performed in a jazz quartet presentation at College Hill Fundamental Academy on Friday, October 8, 2010. Students from the school joined them on stage for a Grand Finale they will always remember, performing Duke Ellington's standard "C Jam Blues" in G on marimbas.

During their following band class, the entire band decided to start coming into school 30 minutes early everyday, just so they can practice and get better.

As of November 30, the band has been lined up at the music room door at 7:15a every single day when their music teacher arrived to unlock the door. Wow......

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Tom Buckley, Mike Scharfe, Steve Schmidt and Ben Walkenhauer performed in a jazz quartet presentation at Roselawn Condon School on Friday, September 17, 2010.

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The legendary King Studio rhythm section of Philip Paul on drums and Ed Conley on  upright bass joined Steve Schmidt on piano and Wade Baker on trumpet for an incredible jazz presentation at Withrow High School on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. This was our second presentation of the year. Yes, that's Philip's wife Juanita on the far right having a wonderful time.

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We did our first in-school presentation for the 2010-2011 school year at Midway Elementary in Western Hills on Tuesday, August 24, 2010.  Wade Baker joined in the fun with Liz Wu & Poco Loco to help encourage students to join the school band.  Something tells me Midway's going to have a pretty big band this year !!!

Left to right:  Cliff Adams - keyboards, Josh Moore - bass, Chris Barrick - drums, Wade Baker - trumpet & Liz Wu - vibraphone

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