OWINGS MILLS, MD—Music lovers can enjoy a night of exceptional jazz when Baltimore County Public Schools’ top high school jazz musicians and vocalists take the stage for the annual All-County Jazz Concert. The concert will be held Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at New Town High School, located at 4931 New Town Blvd. in Owings Mills (21117). Admission is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature performances by the All-County Jazz Chorus and the All-County Jazz Band, comprised of 44 students representing 12 Baltimore County high schools: Catonsville, Dulaney, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Kenwood, New Town, Overlea, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, Perry Hall, Pikesville, Towson, Western School of Technology, and Woodlawn. Anthony Townes, director of bands at Northwestern High School in Prince George’s County, will guest conduct the instrumental jazz ensemble. Heidi Ackerman, musical director of the Frederick Chorale and founder and director of Charm City Sings, will lead the vocal jazz chorus.

Ackerman brings a wealth of experience to the All-County Jazz Chorus. The Baltimore-based musician has conducted professional ensembles and community choruses, including the Frederick Chorale and Charm City Sings. She has also served as assistant conductor to Maestro Anthony Blake Clark of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and conducted the Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band. As an accomplished soloist, she has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, Severance Hall with the Cleveland Pops, The Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, and with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Townes, a Baltimore native, has a distinguished career in Maryland public schools. He has taught in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and currently leads the award-winning steel band and jazz ensemble at Northwestern High School. He has served as director of bands at Northwestern High since 2013. His experience also includes conducting the Prince George’s County “All County Jazz Ensemble” in 2017 and 2018 and the Carroll County All County Middle School Band in 2020.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.