Atlanta Jazz Festival Presents Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition On Sat, March 22

Competition was open to Georgia Department of Education accredited High Schools (grades 9-12) in all 28 metro Atlanta counties. These eight jazz bands are competing: Grady Jazz Knights, Tri-Cities High School Jazz Band, The Westlake High School Jazz Ensemble, Stephenson Jazz Orchestra, Benjamin E. Mays High School Jazz Orchestra, Southwest DeKalb Jazz Ensemble, North Atlanta Center for the Arts Jazz Band and Milton High School Jazz Ensemble.

The three winning bands will perform as the opening act on the Main Stage at the festival each day in Piedmont Park, May 23-25. Winners also receive a scholarship, which has increased this year courtesy of Bank of America. "Bank of America is proud to sponsor the jazz band competition and support these young musicians," said Geri Thomas, Georgia state president, Bank of America. "Music and all the arts play key roles in our education and they offer these students the chance to discover their own talents as they perform the unique sounds of jazz.”

The Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition is open to the public this year, but seating is limited. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. Here’s the link for tickets: http://bit.ly/1dWOpF6.

All High School ensembles – whether they are competing in the competition or not – are invited to join Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2013-2014 Essentially Ellington program. By joining the free program, directors will receive eight original Duke Ellington Orchestra and Gerald Wilson Orchestra transcriptions, as well as access to reference recordings, a revolutionary interactive music player featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, teaching guides, newsletters and other resources. Directors can join the program online by visiting www.jalc.org/EssentiallyEllington and completing a registration form. For questions about the Essentially Ellington program, contact Maegan McHugh at 212.258.9810 or ee@jalc.org.

The Bank of America Youth Jazz Competition is made possible by the generous support of Bank of America and Publix Charities.

Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.

The 37^th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The festival includes Jazz performances throughout the Atlanta area during the entire month of May, culminating with three days of music in Piedmont Park over Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25.  For more information visit the festival web site at www.atlantafestivals.com.