Renowned Vocalist Cassandra Wilson is Featured at Spelman College Festival of Women in Jazz

WHAT:
Grammy award-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson is featured among the roster of musicians, singers, students and members of the academe who will come together at Spelman College to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of women in jazz at the 4th Kenyetta: A Festival of Women in Jazz, April 4-6. Kenyetta is one of the few jazz festivals to exclusively showcase women of the African Diaspora.

The festival, hosted by the Spelman College Department of Music, is under the direction of Joseph Jennings, senior professor and coordinator of the jazz studies track at Spelman. Jennings, who plans in June to retire after 30 years at the College, is also director of the Spelman Jazz Ensemble, who will perform at the festival. In addition to musical performances, symposiums and research presentations will round out the schedule.

The event is sponsored by the Spelman College Department of Music, Office of the Provost, Office of College Relations, Spelman College Jazz Ensemble and the Women's Research and Resource Center.

For additional information regarding the festival, call 404-270-5476.

All festival events are free and open to the public.

WHO & WHEN:
Festival Schedule:

Thursday, April 4
•    7 p.m. - Opening Ceremony and Concert with Giwayen Mata African Drum Ensemble and Jennifer Bliss, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium

Friday, April 5
•    9 a.m. - Symposium Keynote Address: Farah Jasmine Griffin, William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African American Studies, Columbia University, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium
•    11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Symposium Presentation: “Women in Jazz,” Lauren Eldridge, C’2011, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium
•    2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Symposium Research Presentation:  “But Can She Play?: The Treatment of Female Instrumentalists in Jazz,” Alexandra Simmons, C’2013, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium
•    4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Symposium Presentation: “The Woman Is A Drummer,” with Gayelynn McKinney (Straight Ahead), Omelika Kuumba (Giwayen Mata) and Cookie Dean, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium
•    5:30 p.m. - Symposium Reception, Cosby Academic Center Lobby
•    8 p.m. - Concert with Cassandra Wilson, Sisters Chapel

Saturday, April 6
•    7:30 p.m. - Concert with Spelman College Jazz Ensemble with alumnae guests, Cosby Academic Center Auditorium

WHERE:    
Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta 30314

The following address will bring visitors directly to the entrance of Spelman College via GPS navigation systems: 440 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310.