Jazz I and II Concert
Pete Whitman, director
The St Olaf Jazz Orchestras will be performing in concert at the Lion’s Pause on Saturday, May 6 with a very special guest artist: Grammy nominated, Jazz saxophonist Melissa Aldana! Melissa will also be giving a presentation in Urness Recital Hall on Friday May 5th at 1pm.
Aldana was born in Santiago, Chile, and grew up in a musical family. Both her father and grandfather were saxophonists, and she took up the instrument at age six under her father Marcos’ tutelage. She performed in Santiago jazz clubs in her early teens and was invited by pianist Danilo Pérez to play at the Panama Jazz Festival in 2005. In 2013, at 24, she became the first female instrumentalist and the first South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. In 2023, Aldana was nominated for a Grammy Award for best improvised solo on her composition Falling from her Blue Note release, 12 Stars. Aldana. Go to melissaaladana.net to learn more about her.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the fine St. Olaf Jazz Orchestras with a truly inspirational guest artist!