Girls Ellington Project Senior Shares Excitement for Upcoming Royal Room Performance

On March 23, at the famed Royal Room in Columbia City, Seattle JazzED’s all-femme, all-city jazz band will take to the stage to perform the world premiere of Salish, a Jazz Suite by local musician, composer, and music educator Megan Vinther.

High school senior Anna McPherson is one of two graduating musicians in the Girls Ellington Project (GEP) and is thrilled to be performing the Salish suite. “I’m most excited to showcase the hard work of the GEP to not only friends and family, but also to the local Seattle jazz scene and local school bands interested in adding this piece to their libraries.”

At Snohomish High School, McPherson participates in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band 1, and is a Drum Major in the school’s marching band. A skilled leader, she also fronts a professional jazz quintet, the Snohomish Jazz Illusion, that has performed across Washington State at events such as the NW Folklife Festival and the Bellevue Jazz and Blues Series.

As the saxophonist auditions for college programs in the hopes of major in music education, she says of her GEP experience, “ it has granted me the ability to not only make music with some of the most talented musicians in our state, but also to expand my personal repertoire by exploring pieces of different genres and styles!”

You can catch McPherson performing with the Girls Ellington Project on Thursday, March 23, 6pm at the Royal Room. There is no cost to attend the event, but those requesting dinner reservations are required to pre-register their table. Learn more about the event and reserve dinner seating via the link here.