Stricklin said that the turnout at the concerts was high, packing the parks near to the brim. Macmanus attempted to represent the higher ethnic diversity of the region by incorporating elements of Latin and R&B into the score. “A lot of people have no idea how massive that area of town is,” MacManus said. Four band members, Cameron MacManus, Jay Meachum, Christina Hankins and Michael Kinchen composed the Neighborhood Suites, four original jazz pieces corresponding to four equally divided quadrants stemming from downtown: the north, south, east, and west sides.
#CAMEL CITY JAZZ SERIES#
MacManus said that the orchestra aims to broaden the scope of its future education initiatives, and focus on giving private lessons to younger local children.Īccording to Stricklin, one of the orchestra’s most effective community-based initiatives occurred back in 2015, when they played a series of Sunday concerts at city parks downtown, including Bailey Park and Winston Square Park. The combos consisted of small groups of four to five students taking lessons in the Stevens Center from MacManus, artistic director at the community music school. Kosma said the organization has worked on educational outreach with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Community Music School to organize and educate youth jazz combos made up of middle and high school students. Photo Credit: Camel City Jazz Orchestra/Haydee Thompson 20 at the Ramkat in downtown Winston-Salem. Their next public event is their seventh annual holiday concert, on Dec. Per the orchestra’s website, they partner with many local Winston-Salem organizations on events, including the Winston-Salem Arts Council, the jazz radio station WSNC, and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Stricklin, who works in employment law, handles the administrative side, striving alongside the orchestra’s board of directors to coordinate events and secure funding. Responsibilities are split per skill set: Kosma, a proficient saxophonist, handles many of the musical aspects of the orchestra’s operations, including choosing music and rehearsing with band members. Stricklin, who serves as the orchestra’s executive director. Kosma founded the organization with his wife, Jill S. “It’s as simple as that.” He described the loyalty shown by the band’s members, saying many of them have been there since its founding. “It’s always been about playing the music that we love for as many people as we can,” said Matt Kosma, the orchestra’s co-founder and artistic director. The organization has grown a great deal in both size and popularity since its inception in January of 2012, but its goals and values remain very much the same. The Camel City Jazz Orchestra is a registered non-profit organization with a mission: to surpass one’s expectations for the standard performance-based musical group, instead seeking to reach out directly to local music lovers of all ages.Īccording to their website’s mission statement, they look to utilize their skills as musicians to augment local music education and community feeling, while simultaneously promoting their own unique and precise brand of jazz. As other members of the Camel City Jazz Orchestra arrived, he helped carry instruments inside.
Mask/face coverings are required for all patrons, vaccinated or unvaccinated, while inside SECCA’s facility, except where contraindicated by a medical or behavioral condition or disability, or for those communicating with someone who is hearing impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible.One overcast September evening, trombonist Cameron MacManus waited patiently outside the Stevens Center, despite an imminent downpour. Documentation can be provided by presenting a photo of your CDC vaccination card on your phone, the CDC vaccination card itself, or another printed document that verifies vaccination.
#CAMEL CITY JAZZ FULL#
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SAFETY INFORMATION: All patrons age 18+ attending events at SECCA must present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative PCR lab test result from within 72 hours prior to the event. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children under 12 and can be purchased at and at the door. and Jr., will perform pieces from legends such as Hector Lavoe and Oscar De Leon. The lyrics showcase some holiday traditions and cultural references that will be shared and explained by the guest artists. Guest vocalists Laura Gonzqui and Tyrone Marquez, and the Latin percussion father-son duo of Walter Romero Sr.
#CAMEL CITY JAZZ PLUS#
Camel City Jazz Orchestra’s “Holiday Swing & Salsa” will feature old holiday favorites plus authentic holiday selections from the Latin American salsa tradition.