Kelly Rossum - "Rossum compositions make world debut with CAHS bands " by Rich Adams

By Rich Adams
Editor, Cheboygan Daily Tribune

CHEBOYGAN - When jazz trumpeter Kelly Rossum takes to the stage at the Opera House today with Cheboygan Area High School band students, he brings with him two pieces written specifically for the performance.

Rossum, a professional jazz musician from Minneapolis, is the guest artist for today's 7:30 p.m. concert featuring the high school's Jazz Lab and Jazz Ensemble. Two of the pieces he is playing with the Jazz Ensemble are world premieres of music written for this concert, said band director Andrew Dunham.

“He'll be playing original compositions and arrangements, including two songs the Ensemble will be playing that were written just for this performance, just for our school,” Dunham said Monday. “This will be a world premiere performance.”

That's not the only thing new for this concert, which is part of the annual Youth Arts Festival at the Opera House.

“For the past few years, our bands have been playing at the NMU Jazz Fest,” Dunham explained. “Last year he was one of a couple of guest artists. Some of the kids and Tom Golden and I thought he was cool and got talking to him, and found out he was really into kids. We asked if he would be interested in coming to Cheboygan.”

That trip would be as a guest artist for the Youth Art Festival. Cheboygan brings in a guest artist every spring.

“In the past we have asked professors at universities. This is the first time we have had an artist at this professional level,” Dunham pointed out.

Arrangements were made and the Music Boosters are financing the trip and performance.

“The kids are very excited to play with him, especially the trumpet players,” Dunham said.

“While he is here, he is going to do a few improv clinics with the jazz students, and give a few trumpet lessons on the side,” he added. “This is going to be a great concert, and we hope to get a great crowd.”

Rossum, 36, was born to a musical family. His father was a clarinetist in college and in the U.S. Army band, while his mother was an accomplished amateur pianist.

After studying trumpet at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, University of North Texas and University of Minnesota, Rossum started a jazz quintet to perform original compositions.

Today's performance is at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera House. There is no admission charge.



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