Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage
YJED Essentially Ellington Sendoff Concert with Guest Artist John Wojciechowski!
NEW NEWS
YJED is excited to perform their spring jazz concert as a sendoff to the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in New York with guest artist John Wojciechowski! John is an esteemed Chicago-area jazz saxophonist and incredible local educator.
Get ready to be blown away with a wonderful day of jazz with YJED and John Wojciechowski!
Sunday, May 4th, 2025, 4pm- Concert at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, Huntley IL
Check out John Wojo's bio here!!
YJED selected as finalist at the 30th Anniversary Essentially Ellington Festival!
YJED has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious 30th anniversary Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival, to be held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan in May 2025.
This is a tremendous accomplishment to not only make it, but to make it two years in a row!
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The Competition and Festival has been extended to five days, and will run from May 7-11, 2025
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The final concert on May 11 will be held at the historic Metropolitan Opera House, located at Lincoln Center in New York, NY.
We have begun fundraising via GoFundMe to help support these musicians travel and lodging in NYC (yes, it's expensive!). Please visit our GoFundMe site (press the Donate button at left) to support Chicagoland's representative in the Essentially Ellington competition!
Just released! The 2023-24 YJED album now available through Bandcamp!
If you are looking for a jazz album recorded by some of the best high school students in the state, with incredible mastery and musicianship, look no further than YJED's 2023-24 studio album "Pure Joy".
Recorded this past June, in a pro studio with pro engineering, you will not be disappointed with this stunning album.
Please visit this link to check it out! If you are looking for an amazing holiday gift idea, show these wonderful students some love!
So what is the story with YJED???
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YJED members get to play with the best high school musicians in DuPage County and surrounding areas. 20+ high schools...but only 5 trumpets, 5 bones, 5 saxes and one rhythm section.
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You get to play pro-level music!
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You get to play at cool places like The Jazz Showcase, Fitzgerald's, Fulton Street Collective, Plus ILMEA and downtown Chicago gigs, in addition to other concerts throughout the year. Our 2023-24 YJED group played at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in NYC!!
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You get to play with great featured artists. Pros like Victor Garcia, Chris Madsen, Steve Wiest, Roger Ingram who have played with the best in the world!
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And you get to make a pro-level recording, in a pro-level studio, with a featured artist or two. Laying down the best charts of the year, engineered by industry guys who do this for a living. Many of our alumni say this is the most memorable part of YJED.
So, if you want details, go to the "About YJED" tab.
YJED year-end recording - Support through GoFundMe
After our last concert, in May the band (as it typically does) trooped down to Transient Sound to lay down a recording with the best of their season's songs. GoFundMe donations help to fund studio time, plus the sound mixing and mastering, and production still in process.
Click on the yellow "Donate via GoFundMe" button for more details and to make a donation electronically.
If you prefer to donate by check, make the check payable to “Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage” and mail it to the YJED Treasurer at YJED c/o Jenz Law Office, 124 S. County Farm Road, Suite C, Wheaton IL 60187. (Make sure your name and address is on the check to receive a tax deduction receipt). Thanks!