Schoolcraft College will host a special spring-themed concert featuring world-renowned trumpeter, Wayne Bergeron.  The “Up Jumped Spring” concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2011 in the VisTaTech Center. The concert will also feature performances by the college’s Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation Combo, and Synthesizer Ensemble. Tickets for the concert are $15 for general admission, $10 for students (with identification) and seniors, and $5 for children under 12.

“We are thrilled to have such a talent like Mr. Bergeron come to our campus,” said Dr.Riccardo Selva, director of jazz studies, the Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Improvisation Combo.  “Our students are very excited to have this opportunity to play with one of the best jazz musicians of our time.”

Bergeron is enjoying a successful career as one of the most active trumpet players in the world as he continues to keep busy with studio dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest soloist appearances and clinics.  In 1986, Bergeron landed the lead trumpet position with the Maynard Ferguson Band. As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of CD credits reads like a who’s who in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day, Beyoncé to Michael Buble, Josh Groban to Natalie Cole and more.  Additionally, Bergeron has worked on over 300 television and motion picture soundtracks including recent hits like South Park, Toy Story 3, and Despicable Me.

After being behind the scenes for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, You Call This a Living?, which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004 and received rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron’s latest recording, Plays Well with Others, is being met with the same acclaim.  Bergeron is also a National Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is co-designer of the YTR-8335LA trumpet and YFH-8315G Flugelhorn.

In addition to his performances around the world, Bergeron enjoys his work as a clinician and educator and feels it’s important to “give back” by mentoring young musicians. In addition to the concert on April 18, he will be conducting a special Artist Clinic at 2 p.m. with students in the college’s credit and continuing education music programs. “The clinic will take our program and our students to the next level,” said Selva. The clinic will be held in the Presentation Room of the VisTaTech Center and is open to the public. 

“We feel this is not only a great opportunity for the public to see a great jazz musician like Wayne Bergeron, but to also see him in action with our students,” said Cheryl Hawkins, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “It is going to be a great experience for everyone.”

Tickets can be purchased at www.scboxoffice.com or at the Schoolcraft College Bookstore.  For more information call 734-462-4403. Schoolcraft College is a public two-year college, offering classes at the Livonia campus, Haggerty Road between Six and Seven Mile Roads; at the Radcliff Center in Garden City; and online at www.schoolcraft.edu.