Jazz band lands next big gig at gala

Austin Community College's Jazz Ensemble and director for the Ensemble, Dr. Tom Husak, were invited to Washington to perform at a 2009 presidential inaugural gala.

Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs at ACC, Linda Young, was invited to serve on the committee for one of the inaugural galas in DC and secured the jazz band's invitation.

"The Ensemble members were having rehearsals a number of nights leading up to the trip and performances," Young said.

The event took place at the Corcoran Gallery of Art located across from the south lawn of the White House, and lasted from 7 p.m. to midnight. The Jazz Ensemble was featured along with four other vocal performances.

They have already been invited by the leading candidate for President of Costa Rica to come play for her there," Young said.

"They played for one hour and ten minutes, opening up the evening with a special arrangement of America the Beautiful," Young said.

The Jazz Ensemble was the only community college band to be invited. They also performed at Howard University on Jan. 19.

The performance was broadcasted live over the internet using Technology Serving Humanity Link-Live Program at www.link-live.org. The web cast also featured live video streaming from events in several other cites.

"The venue at the Corcoran was so dramatic and beautiful, and they played their hearts out. People from all over the country and from other countries loved the music," Young said.