Celebrating Maggie Scott: 30 Years of Jazz Vocal Night, featuring Esperanza Spalding, Lalah Hathaway, and more

A number of our professors have been teaching at Berklee for many years, sometimes decades, helping their students learn not only about harmony or ear training, but how to survive in the real world as professional musicians. One of those professors is Maggie Scott.

On December 8th, Berklee will be celebrating Maggie Scott’s 30 years of teaching at Berklee. Scott has been a huge influence on her former students, encouraging them to take their talent outside of Berklee and go on to distinctive careers. Many of her students consider Scott to have been more than a teacher to them and are honored to pay tribute to her during this performance. On December 8th, 5 of those students, Esperanza Spalding, Lalah Hathaway, Nadia Washington, Antonia Bennett, and Robin McKelle will be returning to Berklee to properly thank her for her mentorship and inspiration.

Scott, who has said that she is truly honored to that this concert is happening, is a veteran jazz pianist, vocalist and recording artists, began teaching after her education at Julliard and has been performing ever since, for six entire decades.

For 20-year-old music students like me, this is truly impressive. Scott has also made a huge difference in women’s progression in time; many people consider her to be a trailblazer for female musicians. As the first woman elected to the executive board of the Boston Musicians’ Association, Local 9-535 and American Federation of Musicians, Scott began teaching at Berklee when female instructors and students represented a small minority. She not only excelled as a jazz performer, playing as both a soloist and with her jazz trio in the New England area, but also mentored countless students that would soon rise as talented professional musicians. This performance will showcase her success in teaching the importance lyric, melody and swing feel, and how they all work together to create the inspiring art form that is Jazz music.

Part of the 2011-2012 Signature Series at Berklee, Celebrating Maggie Scott: 30 Years of Jazz Vocal Night will be taking place at the Berklee Performance Center (136 Massachusetts Ave) on December 8th, at 8:15 pm. Tickets are $20/$15 (reserved seating) and are available at berkleebpc.com or at the box office. This is a show you will not want to miss.