Kokomo Park Band to perform music of Duke Ellington, June 25
The Kokomo Park Band is proud to announce its annual Big Band Night, a highly anticipated event celebrating the legendary Duke Ellington. This free concert will take place this Wednesday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Highland Park, and is generously sponsored by Primrose Retirement Community of Kokomo.
The evening will feature a dynamic hybrid group of musicians, combining talented Kokomo Park Band players with some of the Midwest's finest jazz performers. This special ensemble will be led by Kokomo's own Bethany Robinson, Director of Jazz at Purdue University.
Preceding the main concert, at 7:00 PM, attendees will enjoy the premier performance of the newly formed KPB All-County High School Jazz Band. This group represents talent from Eastern, Kokomo, Northwestern, Taylor and Western high schools. Jeremy Snyder, Kokomo Park Band's Assistant Manager, is coordinator of the project and has led rehearsals of the group.
This popular program promises to span several decades of swing and big band jazz, highlighted by a feature performance from vocalist Cherresa Lawson.
Beyond the music, the event is designed for the whole family, with coloring materials provided for kids. The Serving in Love Team from Morning Star will also be on hand to offer refreshments. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to the Kokomo High School Auditorium.
About Duke Ellington's Legacy: The concert celebrates the enduring legacy of this visionary composer, bandleader, and pianist, Duke Ellington, whose unparalleled contributions sculpted the very landscape of jazz.
Influenced early-on by tin-pan alley music of the early 1900s, Ellington's music spanned half a century from the 1920s to the '70s. His popularity peaked during the Big Band Era of the '40s.
Ellington's groundbreaking approach to orchestral jazz, often incorporating unique timbres and extended compositions, revolutionized the genre. Beyond the sophisticated harmonies and elegant orchestrations, Ellington's music painted vivid soundscapes, evoking emotions and telling stories with every note.
His orchestra, celebrated for their unique “Ellington effect” – a masterful fusion of individual virtuosity and collective brilliance – captivated audiences worldwide, and in a segregated era. His artistry and presence helped to dismantle racial barriers, fostering a sound that united listeners across all divides.
Selections for the evening will include classics such as "Take the 'A' Train," "Satin Doll," "In a Mellow Tone," "Such Sweet Thunder," "In a Sentimental Mood," and "Foot Bone."
Robinson, now Director of Jazz for Purdue University, previously built a thriving jazz program at Noblesville Schools, which boasted six jazz ensembles. Under her leadership, the top jazz ensemble achieved distinction as a two-time Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Finalist and was named an Indiana ISSMA Jazz State Honor Band in 2023.
Ms. Robinson's extensive accolades include being a GRAMMY Music Educator Award Finalist, NAfME Jazz Council Chair, Past-President of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association, and a board member for the Jazz Education Network. She was recognized as the 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year, a 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist, a 2022 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2023 Indiana Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year.
A two-time Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow, Bethany has received grants to study jazz and culture in both the U.S. and Brazil. Since 2018, she has co-led Indiana Jazz Girls Day annually, hosting workshops and side-by-side concerts to elevate student leaders through jazz across Indiana.
Robinson is a sought-after speaker and presenter globally, having delivered presentations at events such as the Australia National Band and Orchestra Conference (2021), International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2022), and state band conferences in Indiana, Oklahoma, and New York. In 2024, she served as the guest conductor for the New York All State Jazz Ensemble and was the chief adjudicator and guest artist at the Victorian Schools’ Jazz Festival in Melbourne, Australia. She is also a clinician and adjudicator for Jazz at Lincoln Center and performs actively on upright bass, electric bass, and vocals.
Cherresa Lawson will be featured on the Duke Ellington pieces "I Like the Sunrise," "Busy Woman Blues," and "It Don't Mean a Thing." Ms. Lawson is the Director of the award-winning Kokomo High School Choirs. Under her dedicated leadership, her KHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble earned State Finalist honors in 2022 and 2023, and her Karisma Show Choir was named a 2025 State Finalist.
Lawson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Ball State University and has an active career as an educator, performer, and conductor. She has performed with the Kokomo Civic Theater, as a soloist at Second Missionary Baptist Church, and as an active jazz artist across the Midwest. Notably, she was a vocal finalist in the American Traditions Competition in Savannah, Georgia, and continues to be invited to perform at the annual event. In December 2021, she produced and performed a Kokomo Symphony Mini Concert, featuring herself alongside top jazz artists from Chicago and Indiana.
This concert is part of the weekly Summer Concert Series, presented in cooperation with the Kokomo Parks Department, the Community Foundation of Howard County, the Center Township Trustee, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, the Arts Federation (in cooperation with the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts), and American Legion Post #6. The concert is made possible by the generous donations from individuals and area businesses who are fans and supporters of the band.
Contributions to the Kokomo Park Band can be sent to: Kokomo Park Band PO Box 6039 Kokomo, IN 46904-6039
For more information, please visit the band's website at www.kokomoparkband.org or their Facebook page.