The city of Medellín is preparing for a sophisticated display of cultural diplomacy as the Centro Colombo Americano Medellín and Teatro El Tesoro present Noche de Jazz en El Tesoro. Scheduled for Friday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m., this event serves as a high-profile prelude to International Jazz Day. For the international investment community and expatriate executives, the concert represents more than just a musical performance; it is a testament to the enduring soft-power bridges between the US and Colombia, fostering an environment of innovation and collaborative spirit in the heart of Antioquia.

The performance features the US Jazz Faculty Collective, a premier ensemble directed by Dr. Ryan Middagh. This group highlights the academic and professional excellence of five distinguished jazz educators from the United States. The lineup includes Dennis Wilson, a former Count Basie trombonist and associate professor at the University of Michigan; Dr. Ryan Middagh, the Director of Jazz Studies at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University; Christopher Kozak, an associate professor and jazz director at the University of Alabama; Dr. Marc Widenhofer, a Nashville-based percussionist and faculty member at Vanderbilt University; and Dr. Bruce Dudley, a celebrated pianist and professor at Belmont University.

The Centro Colombo Americano Medellín is the driving force behind this cultural exchange. As a non-profit binational center, the Colombo performs vital work in the region by providing high-quality English language instruction and promoting democratic values through the arts. Their initiatives are critical for the local workforce, equipping Colombian professionals with the linguistic and cultural competencies required to engage with global markets and attract foreign direct investment to the Valle de Aburrá (the greater Medellín metro area).

For those attending, Teatro El Tesoro offers a world-class venue located within the prestigious El Tesoro Parque Comercial shopping center. Tickets are available through Tuboleta. Pricing remains accessible for such a high-caliber performance, with general public tickets starting from $64,000 pesos.

The group is led by jazz teacher Ryan Middagh, and is composed of four musicians from the Blair School of Music, recognized for its solid track record in musical training, especially in jazz, and considered one of the best music schools in the United States today. Vanderbilt Jazz Quartet has received important recognitions, including that of the renowned magazine DownBeat.

The Centro Colombo Americano will also have a presentation of Santiago Monsalve, who will give a blues concert, that same night, at El Club del Jazz.

Tickets are on sale at the cinema box office and in the bookstore of the Centro headquarters. Those who purchase tickets to both concerts receive a 20% discount.

Programming

Centro Colombo Americano, Downtown Medellín Headquarters, Room 1
Cra. 25 #53 -24, Medellín
6:30 p.m.: Vanderbilt Jazz Quartet concert, conducted by Ryan Middagh. Ticket office: $35,000

Club del Jazz
Call. 54 #45 – 11
8:00 p.m.: Santiago Monsalve. Ticket office: $25,000

Find all the programming of this year’s Jazz season at

www.colombomedellin.edu.co