Musicians and music enthusiasts will fill Dodd Auditorium on the University of Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus on Saturday, Nov. 4, for the annual Jazz4Justice concert, hosted by the UMW Jazz Ensemble.
Proceeds from the 7:30 p.m. event, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Bar Association and Legal Aid Works (LAW), will benefit both LAW, a nonprofit providing civil legal services for low-income individuals, and the UMW Jazz Ensemble scholarship fund for university music students.
“Attending the Jazz4Justice events allows citizens to give directly back to their community,” said first-year student Shawn Mitchell, a baritone sax player who benefited from the scholarship fund. “The cost for their ticket goes to paying for scholarships for students studying and learning jazz but, more importantly, also goes to community members who are faced with an economic disadvantage.”
For Doug Gately, director of the UMW Jazz Ensemble, who this year teamed with a gospel choir and kids’ chorale, one of the goals of Jazz4Justice is to make the arts more engaging to people in the Fredericksburg community.
“It’s really a show,” Gately said. “We try to add a unique spin to it while making it accessible to everyone.”
Now in its fourth year at UMW, Jazz4Justice is also an active presence on other college campuses, such as George Mason and James Madison universities. Each school delivers exceptional jazz performances, but “Mary Washington is the best,” Gately said with a laugh.
An informal jam session after the performance will be open to all attending musicians.
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and can be purchased onsite or in advance at the following locations:
- Fredericksburg Visitor Center at 706 Caroline St.
- Legal Aid Works at 500 Lafayette Blvd.
- Roberson’s Music at 1300 Jefferson Davis Highway
- Creative Music Academy at 7001 Harrison Road
In addition, will-call tickets also can be purchased online at Legal Aid Works. For more information, contact the UMW Music Department at 540-654-1012.
