The Central Atrium
Friday, March 3, 2023
Show begins at 6 pm
Tickets: Free

Founded in 1909 and known as “THEE” high school because Central was the first High School in Memphis, the bandprogram was vital to the school culture from its inception. The award-winning Memphis Central High School Jazz Bandhas been in existence for many years and has produced many talented musicians such as pianist James Williams, saxophonist Gary Topper, pianist Dr. Ashley Davis. The band has been the winner of the University of Memphis JazzBand festival as well as Jazz Festivals in St. Louis; Mobile, AL; in Disney World; and others around the mid-South. Central High SchoolJazz Band students are routinely members of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association’s All-West Jazz Band as well as Tennessee’s All-State Jazz Band. The Jazz Band was selected, through a blind peer review process as a finalist for the 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Savannah Swing Central National Jazz BandCompetition in Savannah, GA. The band won the Jean Faircloth award and first place in 2019. In 2020, The Memphis Central High School Jazz band was named finalist for the 25 th and 26 th Annual Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival. More recently, the jazzband was selected and performed at the 2022 Tennessee Music Educators State Conference and the 2023 Jazz Education Network International Conference. The Jazz band is one of several performing ensembles in the Central High band program which includes marching band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, pep band, percussion ensemble, as well as other small chamber ensembles.