[NEWARK, NJ – November 28, 2018] The Thelonious Monk Institute has selected Arts High School senior Jalin Shiver for the 2018 National Peer-to-Peer All Star Jazz performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance will be held on Monday, December 3. Jalin is an Instrumental Music major at Arts H.S.

Jalin, along with students from around the country, will be on the same performance bill as jazz greats; Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Dee Bridgewater, and Danilo Perez, to name a few.

“The Arts High School Jazz Band continues to be an exemplary group of student scholars and musicians,” said Superintendent of Newark Schools Roger León. “I continue to be extraordinarily proud of our students and Arts High School leadership who continue to make the Jazz and Latin Bands an exciting, engaging and educational opportunity for our students.

According to Arts High School Band Director Lawrence Liggins, “Jalin is a humble, yet extraordinarily talented senior instrumental music major. He added, “Jalin’s passion for music serves as a model for other students. While he plays alto and tenor saxophones, (and also beginning to learn the flute and clarinet), his favorite and special talents lie in the alto saxophone.

Jazz band students from Arts High School have been selected to participate in special events hosted by the Thelonious Monk Institute on several occasions. In 2011, the jazz band was invited to perform at United Nations by Dr. J.B. Dyas, Vice President, Education and Curriculum Development, from the Thelonious Monk Institute for the 1st Inaugural International Jazz Day celebration. In 2014, drummer Derek Fykes was selected to perform with an All-Star High School Sextet at The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competiton and an All-Star Gala in Hollywood. The jazz band has also performed several times in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Education, for A Jazz Informance, hosted by the Monk Institute. The Monk Institute has played an integral role in developing and sustaining jazz education at Arts High School for several years.

Jalin’s early introduction to jazz can be attributed to his elementary school music teacher at Maple Ave. School, Thaddeus Expose, a jazz bassist of note. In addition to Arts High School, Jalin has supplemented his education in jazz through participation in jazz programs at NJPAC Jazz for Teens, Jazz House Kids and Berklee School of Music Summer Program.

Jalin will be joined by his family for the performance at The Kennedy Center on Dec. 3rd.