11 October 2006, Belleville, Ontario—Secondary music students will spend Friday, October 20th receiving hands-on jazz instruction from members of the renowned Barry Elmes Quintet during master classes and improvisation workshops.

Seventy students will spend the day learning at the Salvation Army building as they prepare for the evening performance. At 7:30 p.m. they will share the stage with their peers and these professional jazz musicians in a public concert at the Salvation Army Citadel, 290 Bridge Street West in Belleville. Tickets are $10.00 and available through Centennial Secondary School Music Department 962-9233 ext. 3163 or at the door.

Barry Elmes is an international performer, drummer, composer, record producer, and educator. A multi-award winner, Elmes has been a mainstay of the Canadian jazz scene since the early 1980's. In 1991 he formed the Barry Elmes Quintet, featuring a "who’s who" of the best in Canadian jazz. The group’s most recent CD "The Five Minute Warning" received an Indie Award nomination for Best Jazz Recording and won Acoustic Jazz Group of the Year at the 2002 National Jazz Awards. The group features Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Mike Murley (tenor saxophone), David Occhipinti (guitar), Steve Wallace (bass) and Mark Eisenman (piano).

The Jazz Improvisation Workshop and public concert were organized for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board secondary jazz students by Blair Yarranton, Music Teacher at Centennial Secondary School and Susan Davies, Arts Co-ordinator

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board serves approximately 18,000 students each day at 46 elementary and 8 secondary schools. Supporting student achievement is the goal of 1,800 teaching and support staff who, in addition to the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners, share their passion for teaching and learning. The district covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south and Quinte West to the west.

For more information, contact:

• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1-800-267-4350, extension 2354