Eight Osbourn High School (OHS) seniors attended a special jazz celebration at the White House.
Hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on April 29, the musical celebration was organized to commemorate the history of jazz for International Jazz Day, according to a release.
During the event, Obama shared stories with the students about her love for jazz.
“My grandfather would wake up every single morning and he would turn on jazz. So jazz has really fueled my life in ways that I can’t describe. It just generates all these memories for me from my childhood,” stated Obama in a release.
The celebration included performances from several renowned artists, including 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock, top alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, and five-time Grammy winner Terrence Blanchard, according to a release. OHS students also had a chance to see a performance by students at the Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts, stated a release.
OHS students had great things to say about the trip.
“I love jazz and it’s what I want to study when I go to college. To see so many active and up and coming jazz performers at the White House was really cool. And seeing Herbie Hancock was legendary,” stated OHS student Quentin Rice in a release.
“The White House experience was a once in a lifetime one, really. To see all these jazz legends perform with students that are learning jazz at a higher level than I am and to have them share their knowledge about the art was really spectacular. I am really grateful that I had the experience,” stated OHS student Nick Roberts in a release.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that Osbourn High School students were a part of exclusive events at the White House.
View the entire White House Jazz Workshop performance at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2016/04/29/workshop-international-jazz-day-workshop
