The Garfield Center for the Arts, local jazz lovers, and resident philanthropists will sponsor the comeback of the Annual Chestertown Jazz Festival, which enjoyed a ten year run from 1996-2006 on the waterfront in Chestertown with BMW of North America as the major sponsor. This year the festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2012 and welcomes the return of ‘Art in the Park’ which will be held simultaneously in the Fountain Park.
The Chestertown Jazz Festival was founded in 1996 by Kent County resident and current Garfield Center board member, Dr. Melvin S. Rapelyea. The practicing radiologist and jazz aficionado has returned from seven years as Chief of Radiology at The Cookeville Regional Medical Center, in middle Tennessee to return to the Chester River Health System, where he worked previously from 1991 to 2000. His initial involvement was as board member of The Native and African American Cultural Activities Museum. “The festival was a means of raising money and promoting cultural awareness and diversity in the region,” said the founder. Going forward, the event will exclusively benefit the Garfield Center, formerly The Prince Theatre. The mission of the Garfield Center for the Arts is to enhance Maryland’s upper eastern shore community through arts, entertainment, cultural enrichment and performing arts education.
“The Garfield Center is excited about the return of the jazz festival to Chestertown. Our organization will support the producers in any way to make this a successful, fun event for our community,” says Philip Dutton, the President of the Board of Directors.
This comeback event, located on the Chester River Waterfront at Wilmer Park, will feature prominent local musicians; beginning with a ‘Gospel Brunch’ with the local ‘Hundred Voice Gospel Choir.’ And for the first time, two international stars will perform on the stage at the waterfront. Parisian born, Frederic Yonnet, an Urban Jazz Harmonicist returns to Chestertown to headline the event. He made his debut in Chestertown at the Downrigging Weekend 2011 when he thrilled and surprised all with his magical, musical genius, belting notes through his ‘mouth organ’ to exciting beats.
The second internationally acclaimed performer is Giacomo Gates, “a bepop and blues singer, keeping the tradition of Eddie Jefferson alive and well.” Giacomo performed at two of the prior jazz festivals and will return on September 15th.
Additional performers will include The Kent County High School Jazz Band, The Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble, The Joe Holt Trio, Felicia Carter, and Project Natale.
Tickets will be as follows:
April 30th until July 15th, $15 per adult, under 12 free.
After July 15th until the event, $20 on line or by phone.
$25 at the gate on September 15th
Advance sales only by phone or online.
Garfield Center for the Arts 410-810-2060
No refunds will be issued.
The event is rain or shine. If necessary bring umbrellas and rain gear.
For more information about the festival go to the website .
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.