The Huntsville Area Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College presented the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble, in concert, on Sunday, March 9th – 5 p.m. at the Marriott Space Center.  The performance served as the fundraiser for the Dr. Bessie Washington Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Inspire and Achieve Corporation was a $1000 sponsor for this event.

The purpose of the fund raiser is to support students, in the Atlanta area, aspiring to continue their education at Spelman College. Tuition is $36,000 a year to attend. The ultimate goal of the National Alumnae Association is to raise enough funds to fully support a student the entire four years of attending Spelman, in the near future.

Spelman’s talented ensemble has toured throughout the United States and has shared the stage with jazz greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Leroy Jenkins, and more. Known for its innovative and soulful sound, the Jazz Ensemble is a major entity of Spelman College under the direction of Mr. RALPH M. JONES, an internationally recognized active performing artist with over 30 years of African-American Improvisational tradition performing experience. Mr. Jones has served for 19 years as music educator and co-chair of the California State Summer School for the Arts in the African-American Improvisational tradition. Jones has been a featured soloist with the WDR Radio Orchestra of Koln, Germany, and the Atlanta and Detroit Symphonies in the premiers and performances of Dr. Lateef’s “African American Epic Suite” for quintet and orchestra. More of Mr. Jones bio and recent CD releases http://www.spelman.edu/academics/faculty/ralph-jones

At Inspire and Achieve,” our mission is to Nurture, Promote Leadership & Encourage young people through scholarship, grants, real world experiences, education, knowledge, and directed training focused on holistic development of personal and educational growth.” We are proud to continue our efforts through this event!