013117...R WGH JAZZ BAND 3...Warren...01-31-17... Joshua McVicker, 17, playing the Upright Bass, rehearses with the Harding Jazz Band Tuesday morning...by R. Michael Semple

WARREN — Students from Warren G. Harding High School will get to perform Friday with one of its most accomplished alumni for music educators around the state.

Harding’s Jazz Ensemble I was selected to play a concert as part of the 2017 Ohio Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference in Cleveland, which will be attended by about 3,000 music educators. Sitting in with them for part of the performance will be Sean Jones, a 1996 Harding graduate who currently is chair of the brass department at Berklee School of Music in Boston.

Jones previously was first trumpet in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (led by Wynton Marsalis) and artistic director of both the Cleveland and Pittsburgh jazz orchestras. When former Miles Davis sidemen Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Marcus Miller planned a European tour to celebrate the trumpet player’s legacy, they tapped Jones as their trumpet player.

Reid Young, director of bands at Harding, said his students at least knew Jones’ name because there are photos and articles about him posted in the jazz room, but he showed them videos of Jones in concert to familiarize them with his talent.

“They’re excited, but the level of nervousness definitely increased after they watched him play,” Young said. “I told them they have to be as professional as he is.”

Young commissioned a piece by composer Dave Rivello, a Struthers native who now lives in upstate New York, that is inspired by the importance of Jones’ education in Warren on his future career path.

“Sean tells a wonderful story about how Jessica Turner (who teaches music at Jefferson PK-8 School) turned him onto the music of Miles Davis,” Young said. “She was the first to give him a record of Miles. He says that’s the day that changed his life. He used to love to play the drums, but when he heard Miles Davis, he fell in love with the trumpet.

“I worked with Dave, who came up with something in the style of early Miles Davis to commemorate the connection she was able to bring to Sean as a young student.”

Jones has a solo in the piece and so will some of the Harding students. Robert Rollo, who retired last year, will be guest conductor on one song. And Richard Rollo, who was band director at Harding when Jones was a student, also will be part of Friday’s performance.

“Rich is a phenomenal musician in his own right,” Young said. “It will be neat to see teacher and student playing next to each other.”

Harding’s Jazz Ensemble I is directed by Young, Heather Sirney and Kevin Kifer and the student musicians are Cara Annandono, Brandon Brown, Zachary Criss, Jacob Dubravcak, Ja’Monte Holloway, Antwan Howard, Nathaniel James, Anthony Johnson, Jordan King, David Klasovsky, Mikaela Laney, Thomas Malacky, Joshua McVicker, Christian Padula, Alexander Payiavlas, Brenden Persing, Jordan Ringold, Darrius Simmons, Avery Stovell and Eric Thompson.

The students will get to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and have dinner at House of Blues on Thursday in addition to rehearsing with Jones and then enjoy lunch after the morning concert on Friday.

“Through the help our booster organization, we received donations and sponsorships that made this trip possible for the students,” Young said.

agray@tribtoday.com