Staff photo / Andy Gray Sean Jones is shown during his performance Sunday with the W.D. Packard Concert Band.

Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:

• Sean Jones delivered a spectacular homecoming Sunday, performing with the W.D. Packard Concert Band at Packard Music Hall.

The acclaimed musician and educator, a Warren native and Warren G. Harding High School and Dana School of Music graduate, has been wowing audiences internationally for more than 20 years.

He premiered a song he finished the week of the concert called “You’ve Been Warrened.” He talked about the inspiration for it in last week’s preview story — a DJ suggested the title to him years ago when talking about that distinctive mentality that comes from growing up in the Mahoning Valley.

When he introduced it on Sunday, Jones said, “This is dedicated to all of you and to all of you who go to other places in the world and they aren’t quite expecting that Warren, Ohio, swag.”

It’s no surprise that Jones’ playing impressed on that original number as well as Alfred Reed’s “Ode for Trumpet” and an arrangement of two Irish folk songs.

But in addition to his own skills, Jones has been hired by some of the most prestigious music schools in the country to teach its students, and his words between songs were just as impactful.

He thanked the many family members, friends, teachers, doctors, pastors and spiritual advisers who guided him in his journey. Many were in attendance Sunday.

“Think of the confluence of humanity that is Warren, Ohio — all colors of the spectrum, all religions, ages, young and old. I am a product of the best of what this country has to offer,” he said. “I want to encourage you as you leave this building to look around, look at one another, because if it weren’t for all of you, my life would not be possible. That’s what makes this country so great — possibility, in spite of.

“If we think about it, none of our ancestors began here. And it was some level of pain that brought them here, either willingly or unwillingly, but that pain brought them here. And we are marching forward doing the best that we absolutely can every single day — reckoning with our past, having resolve in the present and forging ahead into the future. Why? So there can be more of me, so there can be more possibilities. I am honored to be back here with my family, all of you, blood and extended, and I want to encourage you Warren, Ohio, to keep celebrating the best of your children because I’m not an anomaly. There are so many young people just waiting for that next chance, that next opportunity. and I stand here before you as a proud son of this city thanking you. And with that, I’m feeling sentimental.”

That led into a goosebump-raising rendition of Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.”

• A nice-sized crowd turned out to see Jones, and that wasn’t the only well-supported arts event in the Mahoning Valley over the weekend.

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra’s pops concert with singer and pianist Tony DeSare drew 1,300 people to Stambaugh for the orchestra’s biggest crowd this season.

In a news release sent this week, YSO Conductor and Music Director Erik Ochsner said, “”Tony DeSare is a consummate performer and entertainer. Some of the highlights of the evening were his original compositions, including ‘How I Will Say I Love You,’ ‘Paris Always Will Have You’ and ‘New Orleans Tango.’ I’m incredibly proud of the versatility of our Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. It was wonderful to see strong community support in the audience, including Youngstown Mayor Derrick McDowell.”

The season ends on May 15 with a masterworks concert at Stambaugh.

* It didn’t come until after tickets went on sale last Friday, but the lineup of comedians has been set for the Killers of Kill Tony show coming to Powers Auditorium. Scheduled to appear are Ari Matti, William Montgomery, David Lucas and Hans Kim. All are regulars on the top-rated live podcast “Kill Tony,” hosted by Youngstown native Tony Hinchcliffe.

Tickets for the June 12 show are available through Ticketmaster.

Andy Gray is the entertainment editor of Ticket. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com