Announcing the 2024 Artistic Development Winners.
Honoring the memory of John Stites and his passion for jazz music
Honoring the memory of John Stites and his passion for jazz music
Posted October 21, 2022
The JSJAO is partnering with The Gilmore to present the first 2022 Rising Star Jazz performance – pianist and composer Victor Gould’s trio on Sunday, October 23. The Trio will perform at the Wellspring Theater in the Kalamazoo Epic Center at 4:00 pm. Victor Gould was one of the first recipients of the Herbie Hancock Presidential Scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. He will be joined on the Wellspring stage by Tamir Shmerling on bass and EJ Strickland on drums. Tickets are available at here. The Rising Star Jazz Concerts are presented by the JSJAO to honor John Stites, who recorded over a 100 Gilmore jazz and classical Rising Star concerts during his 30-year career. John enjoyed working with these young performers and supporting their efforts to bring new voices to the ever evolving world of jazz.
John was kind and patient with great attention to details. He loved good music of all sorts...
Joel Mabus
The John Stites Jazz Awards (JSJA) are funded by the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization.
The organization funds advanced studies for emerging and established professional jazz musicians, as well as personal development projects which enhance their career opportunities.