A youth jazz ensemble led by violinist and vocalist Nicole Yarling will perform a free outdoor concert on Friday, July 24, at Lummus Park near 14th Street and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.
The Jazz Education Community Coalition, a Miami-based nonprofit that trains young musicians alongside established jazz artists, takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. as part of the South Beach Jazz Festival Summer Series and the Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series. The show runs until 8 p.m. No ticket is required.
Yarling leads South Florida youth musicians
Yarling, a Brooklyn native and South Florida Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, directs the JECC ensemble. A protégé of jazz vocalist Joe Williams, she holds degrees from Baruch College and Columbia University. Through the JECC, she connects aspiring young players with recognized leaders in the South Florida jazz scene and with national and international touring artists.
The ensemble has built a track record across South Florida stages. The group has performed at Art Deco Weekend, Pinecrest Gardens, the Olympia Theater and Miami-Dade County Auditorium, where it opened for Grammy-winning saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera.
Nonprofit has trained young musicians since 2013
The JECC was founded in August 2013 at WDNA radio station after station manager Maggie Pelleya offered studio access for workshops and backed the program with on-air and print promotion. The nonprofit holds weekly Saturday sessions from 1 to 4 p.m. at WDNA, 2921 Coral Way, at a cost of $5 per student, according to a 2024 CBS Miami profile of the organization. The program remains open to new students and volunteer clinicians.
The July 24 concert is underwritten by the city of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, the South Beach Jazz Festival and the Ocean Drive Association, according to event organizers.
Attendees can bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the park lawn.
What to know
What: JECC ensemble concert, South Beach Jazz Festival Summer Series
When: Friday, July 24, 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: Lummus Park at 14th Street and Ocean Drive, 1437 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Cost: Free; no ticket required
Bring: Picnic blanket or lawn chair
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