
Alexandria Jazz Fest

A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest

Get Ready to Swing into the Holiday Spirit at A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest!
The enchanting sounds of jazz will fill the air at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday, December 16, starting at 5pm with drinks and mingling. The city's Office of the Arts is proud to present "A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest," a holiday event that's FREE and open to all.
A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest
Saturday, December 16, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Old Town Alexandria
101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301
RSVP: Free, but space is limited (RSVPs required)
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
- Mingling, DJ Set, Drinks with Port City, and viewing of NEA Art Projects in the Masonic Hall:
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Live DJ Set by RWEONTHEAIR?!
- Drinks (Wine, Beer, Cider) for sale by Port City Brewing Company
- Exhibitions by 3 Artist Recipients of the New Project Residency (funded by the National Endowment for the Arts): Lex Marie, Saya Behnam, Bex Novak
- Tours of Masonic Memorial
- Jazz and Poetry Performances in the Memorial Theater:
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 7 PM: Opening by Master of Ceremonies Christopher Thomas
- 7:05 PM: Poetry by Zeina Azzam
- 7:15 PM: Jazz by Lena Seikaly
- 8 PM: Poetry by Ra Brown
- 8:10 PM: Poetry by Yahney-Marie Sangare
- 8:15 PM: Jazz by Bobby Jasinski and the Hot Lanes
Drinks available all night in the Masonic Hall, directly outside of the Memorial Theater (music and poetry will be heard in both the Hall and Theater).
Part of the yearlong celebration of the Alexandria Jazz Fest's 45th year!
#artsALX
Immerse yourself in the timeless melodies of jazz as talented musicians take the stage, captivating your hearts with their melodic tunes. Additionally, prepare to be moved by mesmerizing spoken word performances that will inspire and uplift. Past Jazz Fest performers were selected through the Office of the Arts Jazz Fest Activation Team, a rotating team of community professionals from various organizations, including the Smithsonian, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series, and the Levine School of Music.
Before the main event begins, join us for a pre-show and mingling session starting at 5:00 PM, featuring three art projects commissioned by the Office of the Arts through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. It's the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow jazz enthusiasts, artists, and performers.
About The Office of the Arts
The Office of The Arts promotes the value of arts and culture in Alexandria by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists and arts organizations. Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to the arts, the Office of the Arts works with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.
JAZZ PERFORMANCES

7:15 – 8:00 PM
A fixture on the D.C. jazz scene for over 15 years, vocalist and DC area-native Lena Seikaly is already making her mark in national and international jazz circles as a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles. She was one of eleven semi-finalists for the prestigious 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition in L.A., is an alum of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in DC, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass program directed by Christian McBride, and the Strathmore Artist-in-Residence program in Maryland. Both as a bandleader and featured artist, Lena has headlined at Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai (China), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore Music Center, Blues Alley, the Hamilton, West Virginia Public Radio’s Mountain Stage, Sidney Harman Hall, various Smithsonian venues and DC’s famed Westminster Church, as well as the Elkhart Jazz Festival (Elkhart, IN), Mel Bay Jazz Festival (St. Louis, MO), Chestertown Jazz Festival (Chestertown, MD), DC Jazz Festival (Washington, DC), and Center City Jazz Festival (Philadelphia, PA). She has performed alongside Byron Stripling, Christian McBride, Sean Jones, Cyrus Chestnut, Norman Simmons, Walter Blanding, Michael Feinstein, Duduka da Fonseca, and various big bands including the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, U.S. Army Blues, Capitol Bones Big Band, and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra.
Lena has released four albums under her name between 2009 and 2018, all of which were released at Blues Alley. Her music is played regularly on DC’s jazz station WPFW 89.3, and “A Little Closer” was featured on Washington DC’s NPR station, WAMU 88.5 shortly after its release.

8:15 – 9:00 PM
Bobby Jasinski and the Hot Lanes
The Hot Lanes jazz ensemble promotes jazz in the D.C. metropolitan area and beyond through festivals, concerts, educational masterclasses in the public school system, and other appearances. The musicians have many years (in some cases, decades) of experience in large ensembles and as soloists. Several are teachers as well as performers. Many have been with the band for most of its existence, sharing a passion for presenting generations of jazz repertoire in a modern concert setting.
POETRY READINGS

7:05 – 7:15 PM
Zeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She serves as the poet laureate of Alexandria, Virginia, for 2022-2025 and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. Her poems appear in literary journals and anthologies, and her poetry collection, Some Things Never Leave You, will be released in summer 2023 by Tiger Bark Press. Zeina’s chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was published in 2021 by The Poetry Box. She holds an MA in Arabic literature from Georgetown University and an MA in sociology from George Mason University. www.zeinaazzam.com

8:00 – 8:10 PM
Raquel "Ra" Brown was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa. She's been writing since she was 13. Using poetry and prose as an outlet (and saving her parents thousands in therapy sessions) she found and still uses her voice to express ideas and experiences: in love, life situations, lust, tragedy and traveling. She has performed and written for other artists, performed on national and international stages and for many amazing audiences. Featured on many albums and has been published in a number of anthologies.

8:10 – 8:15 PM
Yahney-Marie Sangare is a writer, poet, and playwright. She is currently a Senior at Alexandria City High School and co-editor-in-chief of Theogony, ACHS’s student-run newspaper.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Introduction 7:00 – 7:05 PM
Christopher Thomas is a dynamic force of creativity, activism, and inspiration! As a Queer Black Non-Binary individual and survivor of child abuse, they have harnessed the power of words and art becoming a champion for their community. Their journey has led them to become an award-winning poet, a dedicated teaching artist, and a prominent advocate for positive change.
Recognized as a pioneer of poetry by the National Underground Spoken Word Poetry Award (NUSPA) in 2015, C. possesses the remarkable ability to both captivate audiences as a performer and lead as a host. Their magnetic presence has left an indelible mark on diverse platforms, from esteemed institutions like Angelina College, Georgetown University, Jefferson University, and Howard University to cultural spaces like Busboys and Poets, Studio 2001 Art Gallery, The Athenaeum, and Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Mingling, DJ Set, Drinks with Port City, and viewing of NEA Art Projects
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
DJ SET BY
Pre-Show Drinks (Beer, Wine, Cider) Provided by
Founded in February 2011 by Bill and Karen Butcher, Port City Brewing Company is an award-winning brewery serving and shipping beer to D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic market. Port City brews a lineup of year-round beers, as well as an exciting slate of seasonal, occasional, and specialty beers, each with a unique twist. The brewery’s mission is to be a reliable and innovative brewer of delicious, well-balanced beers that celebrate their raw ingredients.
The longest operating brewery in metropolitan Washington, D.C., Port City offers regular tastings, tours, and events at the state-of-the-art facility, located in the historic PORT CITY of Alexandria, Virginia.
Port City Brewing Company is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and making a positive social impact. We have adopted many practices to conserve resources and minimize our impact on the environment and to support and celebrate our employees, promote diversity and inclusion, and give back to our communities.

New Project Residencies
Funded by a Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
The Residency program places visual and performing artists in the community, conducting interactive art engagements. Residencies will include, but are not limited to, expansion of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Post Grad Residencies, Site See, the City’s Mobile Art Lab, as well as new locations including hospitals and senior centers. The guiding principle of the Residency Program is equity, ensuring all residents of Alexandria have equitable access to arts and culture while presenting programs that will equitably employ artists. A second guiding principle is creating meaningful relationships with the community. The two principles will inform the locations of art programs serving communities in Alexandria where there are less arts and culture programs and connecting artists directly with community members.
Lex Marie (b. 1992: Prince Georges County, MD) is a multidisciplinary artist who creates paintings, sculptures and installations that reflect many of her own individual experiences yet encompasses the experiences of many in the African diaspora. Marie’s most recent works focus on the many issues Black children can face in their childhood such as adultification biases, food insecurity, discipline and the many issues within American school systems as seen in her second solo exhibition Let Them Kids Be Kids which opened in Arlington, VA at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington in 2022. Her work has been curated into group exhibitions including Stories From My Childhood (NIU Art Museum, DeKalb, IL 2022); Cumberland Valley Juried Exhibition (Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD, 2022); Future Places (Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA, 2022); Rooted in Voyage (Band of Vices, Los Angeles, CA, 2022); We Can’t Predict Tomorrow (Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, VA, 2021) and FRESH START by McCall Art Advisory (online, 2021). Marie holds a BA in studio art with a concentration in painting from the University of Maryland, College Park. She lives and works in the metropolitan DC area

Saya Behnam is an Iranian-American artist with more than 20 years of experience in fine art. She lives in Virginia, and her studio is at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA.
Her art practice is inspired by nature. She believes in and practices Biophilic Design, which recognizes how much human physical and mental well-being relies on the quality of our relationships with the natural world.
By using natural elements and inspiration from nature, she likes to juxtapose time and space, birth and death, and sacred or fractal geometry patterns observed in natural forms for the structures of growth, energy, decay, chaos, and order.
By creating her handmade colors and inks from minerals, fresh or dried flowers, spices, plants, earth stones, and other pigments —the medium intelligence, an essential aspect of her creative process—they aren't just mediums. Those are parts of places and time.
Furthermore, they produce different colors in response to weather, soil, and location. Since they are specific to the moment, time, and environment they were created, each is unique and can never be replicated. They become singular visual aesthetic records of that unique location and time.

Bex desperately needs help with a new music playlist - she’s been listening to the same one for nearly a decade - eeeek! But luckily other things come easier to her - she is a performing artist, an engineer, a stand-up comedian, and a yogi.
She’s been painting people for nearly two decades. Her experience ranges from studying at the World Body painting Academy in Austria, to painting at the NYC Body painting festival, to winning 2nd place at the Living Art America Championship, to much more in between. Her award winning piece "Namaste", is currently on display at the Smithsonian's Ripley Center in Washington, DC.
Bex also had a new found love for public speaking and storytelling. She feels incredibly alive on stage, and her goal is to connect and inspire audiences. She is a member of Toastmasters International, and has recently told stories with Story Extreme, Story District, the DC Improv, and Perfect Liars Club in Washington, DC.
#artsALX
Transportation
Free parking is available the Masonic Memorial. Visitors to Old Town can also take Metrorail’s Blue or Yellow lines to the King Street-Old Town Station. For DASH schedule information, call 703.746.DASH (3274) or visit dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit wmata.com. For parking information, visit alexandriava.gov/Parking.
Event Information
For more information about the event, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592 or visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.
For media inquiries, contact the newsroom at newsroom@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.
Disability Accommodation
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact daniel.guzman@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5419, Virginia Relay 711.
ALX Jazz Fest Pop-Ups
In celebration of its 45th year, the Alexandria Jazz Fest will host additional "ALX Jazz Fest Pop-Up" events at a location near you.
Featuring jazz music, poetry, art activations, and more, these leaner pop-up events will celebrate our neighborhoods while keep you excited for the next annual ALX Jazz Fest. Part of the ongoing effort by the City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts to bring arts and community events to all Alexandria residents.
To stay updated on information, follow the Office of the Arts at @alexartsoffice
Questions? Interested in performing? Volunteering at the events? Email arts@alexandriava.gov
ALX Jazz Fest Pop Up at Four Mile Run Farmers Market
The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts invites you to the second ALX Jazz Fest Pop Up Series, providing free art activations, live jazz, and spoken word artists at various locations throughout Alexandria. This time, we take the party to the Arlandria area in collaboration with the Four Mile Run Farmers Market.
Free and open to the public!
Sunday, December 3
1 - 3 PM
Enjoy live music by Multi-percussionist, Composer, and Arranger Fran Vielma @franvielmaperc Hailing from Venezuelan Andes, Fran Vielma is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. His continuous research on the rhythms of America, and beyond, is integrated with his attraction to concert music and the freedom of jazz.
PLUS: Join Mobile Art Lab artist David Amoroso @amorosoart during the ALX Jazz Fest Pop-Up for a card crafting workshop to welcome Winter and all of the upcoming celebrations! Participants can customize their cards with cut paper, markers, crayons and other crafting items provided by the Alexandria's Mobile Art Lab!
ARCHIVES
Below you will find a collection of past ALX Jazz Fests, from pop-up events to our 45th Anniversary event.
ALX Jazz Fest Pop Up at the Market at Southern Towers
The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts is proud to invite you to the first ever ALX Jazz Fest Pop Up Series! Over the next few months, enjoy free art activations, live jazz, and spoken word artists at various locations throughout Alexandria. In October, we partner with the Market at Southern Towers to provide a musical experience alongside the market's offerings of fresh fruit, baked goods, artisans, and health products!
Free and open to the public!
The Market @ Southern Towers
4901 Seminary Rd
Alexandria, VA
Sunday, October 22
12 - 2 PM
The Farmer's Market runs from 10am - 3pm
The Jazz Fest Pop Up performances runs from 12 - 2pm
Live jazz by Munit Mesfin @munit.mesfin
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Spoken word by
• Yohanes Molla Namaga @yohaneslm
• Mari Mused @marixmused
• Raquel Ra Brown @radigya
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Hands-on mask-making art project with David Amoroso @amorosoart with the Mobile Art Lab! 12 - 2pm
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ABOUT THE JAZZ ARTIST
MUNIT MESFIN @munit.mesfin
Munit Mesfin is an Ethio-Soul singer and award-winning songwriter and recording artist. In her performances, she blends her Ethiopian roots with the music she loves: jazz, soul, and reggae! She loves building community with music, be it with kids as young as 3 or as old as 103 ;) She has two albums that she did in her duet, Munit and Jörg, and recently, another with the band Project Locrea which recently won two Wammies (Washington Area Music Awards) for Best World music Artist/Group and Best World Music Song for an Ethiopian tune entitled Abet Abet that she performs on. In 2021, Munit also won the overall award for the Songwriters' Association of Washington's Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Competition with her song "Adwa", and was a finalist in their newest "Freedom Songs" category.
Munit is currently working on her first solo album, and a family music album with her son and daughters under their band, Munit and the Lovebugs! Besides her performances, she works as a teaching artist with Carpe Diem Arts, the Civic Circle and Wolf Trap, using arts integration for positive social and educational outcomes!
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ABOUT THE SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS
RAQUEL "RA" BROWN @radigya
Raquel "Ra" Brown was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa. She's been writing since she was 13. Using poetry and prose as an outlet (and saving her parents thousands in therapy sessions) she found and still uses her voice to express ideas and experiences: in love, life situations, lust, tragedy and traveling.
She has performed and written for other artists, performed on national and international stages and for many amazing audiences. Featured on many albums and has been published in a number of anthologies.
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MARIX MUSED @marixmused
Hailing from the Prince George’s County, Mari Mused is a young creative interested in the entertainment and advancement of black youth. Mari is a senior at the illustrious Morgan State University with future goals of becoming a physical therapist. You can follow her on instagram @marixmused to see her creative works.
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YOHANES MOLLA NAMAGA @yohaneslm
Yohanes is a Poet, Podcaster, Blogger & more. He is the the author of the books 'የብርሃን ልክፍት' (Luminomania) and 'የብርሃን ሰበዞች' (Raffia grass of light)
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ABOUT THE MOBILE ART LAB ARTIST
DAVID AMOROSO @amorosoart
David Amoroso shares his “Pop Art” aesthetic through painting, photography, and block and screen-printing. Although the majority of David’s work is dedicated to painting portraits of cultural icons, he also represents everyday people and addresses social justice through his art. The influence of Mexico and Central America are apparent in his bold color palette, and he upholds traditional cultural artistries such as Papel Picado, altars for Día de los Muertos and Guatemalan Alfombras de Aserrín. David Amoroso has exhibited in the DC Metro area, New York, California, Mexico, and Central and South America. His work is frequently highlighted in cultural events, festivals and Smithsonian programs.
PLUS: Check out the full lineup of vendors at the Market! Come support local businesses!
Wonder Abyssinia Trading LLC @wonderabyssinia
Bakeology Pastries (treats/pastries)
Terry’s Taste (food) @terrystaste
Carlos’ Farm (produce)
Unique Shine Cherita (jewelry)
The Snack Lady (sweets) @thesnackladyllc
Sustainably D. Marie (clothes and items)
Day Dreamer Oasis @daydreamerscbd
IZORA (soaps)
Art Bae (art) @the_artbae_
Composting station by @alexandriavates
Thanks to the City of Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) @alexandriavagov and Southern Towers Apartments @southerntowersalexandria for putting on the Farmer's Market each weekend.
45th Annual ALX Jazz Fest (2023)
This last summer, The Alexandria Jazz Fest (ALX Jazz Fest) celebrated its 45th anniversary! Despite a rain delay, more than 3,000 attendees attended this 3-hour event, full of music, spoken word, student poets, and a live mural painting.
Friday, June 16, 2023
6 - 9 pm
part of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival
Waterfront Park
About The Office of the Arts
The Office of The Arts promotes the value of arts and culture in Alexandria by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists and arts organizations. Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to the arts, the Office of the Arts works with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.
Jazz performances

6:15 – 7:00pm
Joe Baione Quintet
Joe Baione grew up in a jazz drenched musical environment. His father, the clarinetist-saxophonist-educator Jim Baione, is a graduate of Philadelphia’s prestigious Combs Conservatory of Music, where he earned both his B.A. and M.A. in Music Education Degrees and first met Joe’s musician mother, Barbara. The other musical members of the Baione family include Joe’s two older brothers, bassist Tom and guitarist Jimmy. Following in his father’s footsteps, Joe studied both music education and jazz performance, graduating from the University of Maryland E.S. in 1995. Since then he has gone on to become a passionate and creative band teacher by day and an energetic and innovative band leader and performer at night. Joe Baione has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals and venues in the world, including the Trinidad Jazz and Steelpan Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, The Iridium NYC, The Kimmel Center, The Freeman State and the Rehoboth Autumn Jazz Festival.
7:15 – 8:00 pm

Michael Hawkins and the Brotherhood
Growing up in Alexandria Virginia, Michael Hawkins became influenced by the vibrant music scene. Local musicians would play at his neighborhood’s recreation centers and parks on a regular basis. Hawkins began his music career as a trumpet player in his high school band. After switching to trombone, he finally settled on bass guitar. At 15, he began to work professionally in his native Alexandria, Va. By 16, he was leading his own band and performing regularly in the Washington, D.C., area. Upon receiving a full scholarship, Hawkins studied music at Virginia State University. Next, he made his way to New York City, where he earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Queen’s College and shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest musicians.
Internationally, Hawkins has toured and performed with some of the biggest names in music. Hawkins has toured abroad in Japan, Russia, Ukraine, China, Germany, Italy, Canada and Scandinavia. Michael has led groups and performed in prestigious venues such as New York City's, The Village Vangaurd, Sweet Basil's, Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center), and house Bassist at Cleopatra's Needle, Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase (Chicago), Jazz Bakery (Los Angeles), Ragatta Bar, Sculler's (Boston), The Dakota (Minneapolis) and Yoshi's (Oakland).
A sought after side-man, Michael's dynamic Bass sound can be heard on numerous recording projects such as Cyrus Chestnuts "You Are My Sunshine" (Warner Bros.), "Genuine Chestnut" (Telarc), and on various performances, and songwriting collaborations.

8:15 – 9:00 pm
Sharón Clark
Washington, D.C. standout Sharón Clark has brought festival and concert audiences to their feet across the globe. Ms. Clark has made countless international tours, from Europe to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Russia, where she has developed a major following. Ms. Clark has performed as a featured soloist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony.
Both the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and The Ludacris Foundation chose Ms. Clark to perform for their separate tributes to Quincy Jones. Ms. Clark won the Gold Medal and $10,000 top prize at the Savannah Music Festival's American Traditions Competition. She then took first place in the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, which offers a $2,500 prize along with a featured appearance with the Baltimore Symphony.
Poetry readings

6:10 – 6:15 pm
Zeina Azzam
Zeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She serves as the poet laureate of Alexandria, Virginia, for 2022-2025 and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. Her poems appear in literary journals and anthologies, and her poetry collection, Some Things Never Leave You, will be released in summer 2023 by Tiger Bark Press. Zeina’s chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was published in 2021 by The Poetry Box. She holds an MA in Arabic literature from Georgetown University and an MA in sociology from George Mason University. www.zeinaazzam.com
7:00 – 7:15 pm

Sami Miranda
Samuel "Sami" Miranda grew up in the South Bronx and resides in Washington, DC. He is a visual artist, poet, and teacher who uses his craft to highlight the value of everyday people and places. His work is heavily influenced by Puerto Rican culture and family history, as well as his interactions with his students, people he encounters in his travels, and DC locals. Much of his work is figurative and explores how the body and face illustrate the successes, hardships, and beliefs that people carry with them. He is the author of Protection from Erasure, published by Jaded Ibis Press, Departure, a chapbook published by Central Square Press, and We Is, published by Zozobra Publishing. He is currently working on collaborative projects with musicians and visual artists about the deep connections they can make through their artwork. Samuel's artwork has been exhibited internationally in Puerto Rico and Madrid, as well as New York and Washington, DC. Most recently, Samuel's artwork has been included in the Smithsonian's new Molina Family Latino Gallery inaugural exhibition ¡Presente! His artwork has been included in University and private collections.
8:00 – 8:15 pm
ACPS Student Poet Laureates
Two recipients for the Alexandria City Public Schools Poetry Award will read a poem each as part of the closing set for the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest. The student poet laureates will be announced at the April 26 ACPS Poetry Award Ceremony.
Live mural painting during the performances
Experience the live creation of a masterpiece before your very eyes, inspired by the music and spoken word poetry on stage and produced by the artist behind famous murals featured at DC's Art All Night and Ben's Chili Bowl.

6 - 9 pm
Aniekan Udofia
Aniekan Udofia has built up a formidable reputation as a powerful Painter and illustrator. Whether through multi-layered compositional complexity and suggestive narrative or straightforward human form, there is often autobiographical narrative at play.
Udofia garnered national attention in the early 2000s with his illustrations, working for publications such as XXL, Vibe, DC Pulse, Frank151, While You Were Sleeping, and The Source.
In recent years he has become well known for his many vibrant murals around Washington DC with quite a solid clientele list, including Toyota, American Express, the Office of Unified Communications, Murals DC, the Museum of Public Art, and a host of small businesses and property owners.
His murals share the rich history and culture of the different communities they are created in, whether it's the gagged George Washington on 15th and U Street or the very bright and colorful Marvin Gaye in the Shaw area of Washington DC, and his most famous Ben's Chili Bowl mural, Udofia's public works speak for themselves.
Aniekan lives and works in his studio in the Adams Morgan area of Washington DC.
Master of Ceremonies

Introduction 6:00 – 6:10 pm
Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez
Born in Puerto Rico, Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from UMBC and an M.A. in Public Management with a focus on Nonprofit Management and Leadership at UMD. She has received fellowships from VONA Voices and Anaphora Arts, having worked with Willie Perdomo and Danez Smith. Tatiana currently performs, facilitates workshops, and hosts events in the DC area, having previously done so across the United States and the Dominican Republic at venues including The Kennedy Center. Much of her community and poetic efforts are dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and empowering young women of color. Her work has been featured in MSNBC’s “Leguizamo Does America” and The Acentos Review, among other publications. Tatiana is the author of Coconut Curls y Café con Leche (2019) and Despojo (2020).
Special Thanks to
The 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest Activation Team
Comprised of professionals from the Smithsonian, NPR, and the Levine School of Music, the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest Activation Team supported Office of the Arts staff in the review and selection of jazz musicians for the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest. Musicians were considered based on talent, range of jazz styles, live performance experience, as well as additional considerations for regional impact and/or cultural resonance with Alexandria.

John Hasse
During his 33-year tenure at the Smithsonian Institution, Curator Emeritus John Edward Hasse developed exhibitions on Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles. He led the Smithsonian’s efforts to build the world’s largest museum collection of jazz history, including the 200,000-page Duke Ellington Collection. John founded the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, now celebrating its 32nd season, and international Jazz Appreciation Month, celebrated in 40 countries. His books include Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington and Discover Jazz. He has written 50 articles on music for The Wall Street Journal and is the recipient of two Grammy Award nominations, two honorary doctorates, and two ASCAP awards for excellence in writing on music. John has lectured on leadership, the arts, and music in 25 countries. His website is: johnedwardhasse.com.

Suraya Mohamed
Suraya Mohamed is a senior manager on the NPR Music team. A 3-time Peabody award-winning producer, sound designer, and editor, she is also the recipient of 3 Gracie Allen Awards and an NEA Chairman’s Award for Distinguished Service. With years of experience in podcast creation and long-form documentary series production, she is a versatile media professional who also specializes in project management, content development, and multi-partnership collaborations.

Jeremy Castillo
As Director of Performance and Contemporary Music at iconic D.C. community music school Levine Music, Jeremy oversees contemporary music education—specifically heading up the Jazz Program, Rock Program, and Levine Music Theater—and the school's popular professional concert series. Jeremy is a member of the Recording Academy, and before coming to Levine in 2012 was a longtime private guitar instructor, session guitarist, independent soundtrack composer, and a member of a professional, long-running rock band in Los Angeles. Jeremy holds a bachelor's degree in guitar performance from George Mason University and still actively plays—over the past 30 years has played on dozens of notable stages, in various ensembles, across the country. But he's found his greatest professional joy over the past decade in helping Levine modernize, grow, and positively impact the lives of its students, staffers, and supporters. Jeremy lives in Fairfax, Va., with his wife, two kids, and too many pets.