FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kim Court, Public Affairs

April 10, 2007 (315) 498-2054

JAZZ GREAT WYNTON MARSALIS

HOSTS MASTER CLASS AT

ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SYRACUSE, NY – Onondaga Community College (OCC) recently welcomed New Orleans jazzman and the nation’s preeminent jazz educator Wynton Marsalis to campus where he hosted a master class and clinic with the OCC Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Steve Frank.

This event was presented as a result of funding from the New York State Music Fund, the OCC Foundation and Arts Across Campus.

During his interactive clinic, Marsalis encouraged the students to “do your own thing” by “putting your own personality into the music.” And to the delight of the music students and the full house, he took out his trumpet and joined the Jazz Ensemble musicians for several numbers.

“What an incredible honor to welcome a musical genius back to the Onondaga campus,” said OCC President Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D. “Certainly, our music students and the entire student body will benefit from his expertise as one of the world’s finest jazz musicians.”

Onondaga Community College's Arts Across Campus is a year-round series of high quality arts and cultural programming designed to enhance student learning through the arts. Initiated by OCC President Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D., in 2003, Arts Across Campus showcases community favorites and also welcomes to Central New York new and emerging artists, scholars and performers who stimulate the mind and soul. For more information about this event or other Arts Across Campus events, please call (315) 498-ARTS (2787) or visit online at www.sunyocc.edu

The second-largest undergraduate college in Central New York, Onondaga Community College (OCC) is a comprehensive two-year college operating under the State University of New York (SUNY). It is locally sponsored by Onondaga County. Founded in 1961, the College is committed to affordable excellence in higher education through its nearly 50 programs of study.

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