Virginia Tech Jazz Ensembles Concert featuring Brandon Lee
Venue: Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg
Organizations: Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts
Date: Friday, September 24, 2021
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Event Types: Music
Cost:

Description:
The Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts presents the Virginia Tech Jazz Ensembles Concert featuring Brandon Lee on Friday, September 24, 2021 at the Lyric Theatre.

Trumpeter Brandon Lee joins the Virginia Tech Jazz Ensembles for a evening of jazz at the historic Lyric Theatre.

Lee was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Growing up in a musical family, Lee started on piano at age 5 and switched to trumpet at age 9. He found his love for jazz at the early age of 11 years old and never looked back. In 2001, Brandon moved to New York City to further pursue his jazz studies at The Juilliard School, where he received a Bachelor of Music, Masters and Music and Artist Diploma. After studying, Brandon taught at Juilliard as one of the youngest to ever teach on faculty in the jazz studies department, from 2008-12. In 2013 Brandon’s moved to North Carolina and took on a college teaching position for the Miles Davis Studies program at University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG). He taught for 5 years at UNCG before moving back to NYC to continue in pursuing more performance opportunities.

As a sideman, Brandon is a member of the Christian McBride Big Band, Philly POPS Jazz Orchestra, Birdland Big Band, David Berger Big Band and recently joined the Count Basie Orchestra. He also plays frequently with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Fat Cat Big Band, Eyal Vilner Big Band and many others. Over the years, Brandon has played with notable artists and groups including Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Aaron Diehl and Cecil McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling, and Kenny Barron Quintet, and many more. He has recorded on over a dozen albums as a sideman. In February 2018, Brandon was awarded his first Grammy as a sideman on Christian McBride’s big band album, “Bringin’ It”. As a leader, Brandon has recorded three albums: “From Within” (2007), “Absolute-Lee” (2010), and his latest, “Common Thread” (2017). Brandon also co-leads a 10-piece ensemble, Uptown Jazz Tentet (UJT). UJT released its first album, "There It Is” in March of 2017 and second album, “What’s Next” in October of 2020. Currently, Brandon resides in New York City where he is continuing to pursue more performance-based opportunities in the city and abroad.

Admission is $10.00 for the general public and $7.00 for students.

For more information, visit: https://www.performingarts.vt.edu/performances/2021/09/sopa-jazzensemblesbrandonlee.html or https://www.facebook.com/VTperformingarts.