Acclaimed Pianist Jade Simmons returns to Baton Rouge as 2011 Debose Festival Artist-in-Residence

April 7, 2011 - PRLog -- According to Sergio Mims of Ebony/Jet Online: "Among the new generation of classical music artists, few are making the huge impact and receiving the kind of acclaim that pianist Jade Simmons has been of late." Known for innovating programming and riveting performances, Simmons will serve in a variety of capacities in her role as the Artist-in-Residence for the Debose National Piano Competition-Festival.

Residency Schedule:
Friday, April 15th, 2011 starting at 12 noon, Simmons will adjudicate the College/Young Artist Division of the Debose National Piano Competition on the campus of Southern University in the Recital Hall of the Debose Music Building.

Saturday, April 16th, 2011 features Jade in the role of clinician, recitalist and motivational speaker:

9:30am- Also in the Debose Music Building Recital Hall, Ms. Simmons will conduct her own brand of master class called Passionate Performances which is in interactive lesson featuring young local pianists. This event is open to the public. The emphasis of the class is on stage presence and communicating the music "off of the page" to the audience.

6:30pm- In the Scotlandville Magnet High School Auditorium and as part of the Debose Series, Jade Simmons will perform a solo piano recital featuring the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Robert Muczynski and Franz Liszt.

7:30- Following immediately in the auditorium Jade will speak to the participants of the competition prior to the official awards ceremony for the laureates of the Debose National Piano Competition.

Scotlandville Magnet High School is located at 9870 Scotland Avenue, Baton Rouge.

In addition to her active performance career, Jade Simmons is also the fonder of the Impulse Artist Series (501c3) which provides performance opportunities to emerging concert artists, the creator of Emerge Already! a video and blog series that gives career-building advice to aspiring artists and she lectures and writes on arts, race and culture. Upcoming highlights include a concerto debut at Disney Hall in Los Angeles and an extensive residency at Georgia Tech as a part of the Ferst Center's ARTech Program.

Ms. Simmons' residency with the Debose National Piano Competition-Festival is presented and sponsored by the Debose Foundation and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

For more info on Jade Simmons, please visit: http://www.jademedia.org

For more info on the Debose Festival: http://www.debosefineartsseries-competition.com/

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Jade Media is the umbrella organization for the artistic endeavors of pianist Jade Simmons including the Impulse Artist Series, the Emerge Already! Franchise and the NewMuseic Network.