Celebrate National Harbor's 15th Anniversary
Join us as we celebrate our 15th birthday with a day of music, art, culture and community on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Enjoy a day of free performances on the Plaza Stage and Spirit Park Amphitheater as well as an art exhibition, market and drumming demonstrations under the Capital Canopy.
Entertainment and Art Exhibits provided in partnership with the Prince George's Cultural Arts Foundation, producers of the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival.
Scroll below to see the full schedule.
1:00pm
The FAME Jazz Band Program (FJBP) was established in 2015 as a community-based, year-round initiative that improves students’ musicianship and appreciation for Jazz, providing opportunities for them to showcase talents, improve academic skills, and prepare for college and/or career success. The program includes the FAME Jazz Band (FJB), FAME Jazz Ensemble (FJE), and Musicians in Training (MIT).
3:00pm
The Prince George’s Poet Laureate and Poetry Ambassadors will travel throughout the county speaking at official events presenting poetry and participating in poetry workshops.
5:00pm
The Marcel Penzes Group presents the flavor of New Orleans music by blending the style of the brass bands from the Big Easy and bringing them to the D.C. area. Marcel Penzes is an award-winning multigenre trombonist from the Washington D.C. area. He has performed with Carmen Bradford and Oliver Nelson Jr., among other notable jazz artists. Marcel currently studies Jazz Trombone performance under Wayne Wallace at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
2:00pm
Langston Hughes II is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Langston is currently an undergraduate student at Howard University in Washington, DC studying saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He continues to develop his skills, knowledge, and creative thinking under the tutelage of esteemed professor Charlie Young III. Since 2019, Langston has worked alongside the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education and began serving as ensemble director along with teaching private and group saxophone lessons.
4:00pm
Pink PaLiSh! A dynamic Soul trio, made up of three extremely talented singers: Pam Ward (“Pa”), Alisha Glover (“Li”) and Shang (“Sh”). This extremely diverse ensemble never ceases to turn heads with their larger-than-life vocals. What makes Pink PaLiSh such an exceptional group is that each member has an established career and fan base, shining in the roles of solo artist, actress, songwriter, band member, author, poet, musician and much more! Lending to the appeal of this fusion of vocal divas are their rock solid friendships.
6:00pm
Spur Of The Moment has, over the past two decades, bucked the odds, transcended the usual ups and downs, and inspired thousands of fans across the world with a vibe that continues to define the word band. The list of artists that have worked with this immensely talented unit grows yearly. Their resume reads like a "who’s who" of the R&B and Jazz worlds. From the legendary George Duke to Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Ledisi, Raheem Devaughn, and Lalah Hathaway.
Rudolphus Thorpe, a self-taught artist, works with mixed medium including clay and acrylics, and let’s his soul convey his thoughts through his brush onto a waiting canvas. “My work is a combination of realism and abstract combined with a touch of class”. Mr. Thorpe’s work can be seen in many private and public collections and adorns the walls of many restaurants, office buildings, baseball legend Hank Aaron, Smokey Robinson, radio personality Donnie Simpson, golf legend Calvin Peete and media personality Ed Gordon.
Casey’s Art offer a vast selection of art that appeals to the new art lover as well as the experienced collector. They have artworks in all price ranges, mediums, and subjects. Whether a collector investing in your first piece of art or adding to your collection, Casey’s Art is always available to answer questions, give advice, or tell you more about a particular artist or simply share their love of art. Casey’s Art combine outstanding service and exquisite artwork to make the fine art purchasing and ownership experience as unforgettable and enjoyable as possible.
Grounded and connected to our inner selves, we fearlessly connect with others, and thereby reduce loneliness, social isolation, and alienation. When we tap into the power of this ancient, sacred practice, we feel a sense of empowerment that gives rise to creative expression. Drumming also puts us in the present moment, calling us into our bodies and out of the endless chatter of the mind. Whether through low, dense frequencies that invite us to relax and let go, or through fast, pulsating, high frequencies that urge us to action, the power of the drum can be used to release powerful, often pent-up, emotions and to help us to access deeper levels of consciousness.
The workshop instructors will introduce and discuss the different types of hand drums as well as other percussive instruments. They will also discuss the origin as well as different rhythm dialects and how they transcend cultures and explain how auxiliary percussion is used in different genres of music: jazz, R & B and Blues.
The Prince Georges Cultural Arts Foundation’s African Drumming and Percussions Master Class and Workshop offers healing, unity, community, and FUN!
Conducted by Master Percussionists and African Drummer, Steve Perkins with demonstrations performed by "More than a Drum" Ensemble.