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Jazz Festival names new artistic director, first African American to hold the title
Updated: 2:08 PM PDT Sep 7, 2023
The Monterey Jazz Festival named Darin Atwater as the new artistic director on Thursday.Atwater, who was born in Washington, D.C., is the third artistic director in the 66-year history of the event, and the first African American to hold the title. He takes over for Tim Jackson, who ran the festival for 32 years.Atwater previously was the composer-in-residence for the Baltimore Symphony, a composer and pianist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and a guest conductor for the Baltimore Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Columbus Symphony and Memphis Brass. He founded the Soulful Symphony in 2000, which featured an 85-member orchestra.Over the years, Atwater has appeared on NBC, CNN and PBS. He won an Emmy for “Song in a Strange Land with Soulful Symphony.” He has performed at the White House, the Lincoln Center, and performed at the grand opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.This is Atwater’s first Jazz Festival. The 66th Monterey Jazz Festival is scheduled for Sept. 22-24 at the fairgrounds.
The Monterey Jazz Festival named Darin Atwater as the new artistic director on Thursday.
Atwater, who was born in Washington, D.C., is the third artistic director in the 66-year history of the event, and the first African American to hold the title. He takes over for Tim Jackson, who ran the festival for 32 years.
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Atwater previously was the composer-in-residence for the Baltimore Symphony, a composer and pianist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and a guest conductor for the Baltimore Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Columbus Symphony and Memphis Brass. He founded the Soulful Symphony in 2000, which featured an 85-member orchestra.
Over the years, Atwater has appeared on NBC, CNN and PBS. He won an Emmy for “Song in a Strange Land with Soulful Symphony.” He has performed at the White House, the Lincoln Center, and performed at the grand opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
This is Atwater’s first Jazz Festival. The 66th Monterey Jazz Festival is scheduled for Sept. 22-24 at the fairgrounds.