Pierce Street Jazz to feature renowned violinist Devereaux

 

La Sierra University's Pierce Street Jazz series will feature a major talent during its next concert. Her name is well known among top jazz and pop artists, as well as in the classical and academic realms.

Violinist Yvette Devereaux will lead the next Pierce Street Jazz performance scheduled for Wed., Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. The show will take place at the La Sierra Universtiy Alumni Center, 11500 Pierce St., Riverside, and is free admission. For further information call 951-785-2148.

Devereaux's band of accomplished musicians is comprised of Ron Kobayashi on piano, Al Williams on drums, and Henry "the Skipper" Franklin on bass.

Devereaux holds music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and from Chapman University. Her high profile performance credits are extensive and include most recently playing on Justin Timberlake's new CD, "The 20/20 Experience," as well as a performance with him at the 2013 Grammy Awards. She has appeared as a soloist at the Hollywood Bowl with Stevie Wonder, Gerald Wilson, Kenny Burrell and others and worked with a long list of jazz and pop greats including Peabo Bryson, Dianna Krall, and Anita Baker. She has also served as principal violinist for opera great Luciano Pavarotti and has toured with Andrea Bocelli.

Devereaux's bio also describes her significant accomplishments as a conductor. She served as guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1995 and 1998 with the F.A.M.E. choirs of Los Angeles and has conducted the Chapman University Chamber Orchestra and University Symphony on an international tour. She also conducted orchestras for major awards events and feature film soundtracks. She holds the distinction as the first African-American woman to be accepted into the conducting programs at both Chapman and the Peabody Conservatory.

Devereaux has also received awards for her community education ventures which have included an after-school and weekend performing and visual arts academy in Compton. She has recently written and published arrangements for youth string orchestras.

Contact: Larry Becker, exec. dir., university relations, 951-785-2046, lbecker@lasierra.edu

Date: Aug. 16, 2013

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