Jazz Prodigy Esperanza Spalding To Perform And Teach November 13 - 14

At age four, after watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” an inspiration came to jazz artist Esperanza Spalding. “It was definitely the thing that hipped me to the whole idea of music as a creative pursuit,” says Spalding. Within a year, she learned to play violin well enough to become a part of the Chamber Music Society of Oregon.

By age 15 she became their concertmaster, but also discovered the bass and other music genres. Now in her mid-twenties, the musician, composer, model (as seen in Banana Republic ads) and instructor is a hit on the late-night television circuit and garners illustrious honors, such as opening the first White House Poetry Slam last May.

Spalding’s international tour brings her to Emerson Concert Hall in Emory University’s Schwartz Center on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. for a concert with drummer Lyndon Rochelle and pianist Leo Genovese. They will perform contemporary American and Brazilian jazz, including Spalding’s own music. As an Emory Coca-Cola Artist-in-Residence Spalding leads a masterclass with demonstrations and a question and answer period on Fri., Nov. 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall (free and open for public observation).

For more info, visit Emory Univeristy.