Class act
When legendary jazz musician Wynton Marsalis agreed to a two-year lecture series at Harvard, faculty and staff began brainstorming ways to involve the community in related events. In addition to opening his kick-off concert lecture at Sanders Theatre to the public, they asked Marsalis if he’d be willing to teach a master class at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS). Marsalis, who has made the promotion of jazz and cultural literacy to young audiences one of his hallmark causes, immediately agreed. “When we told our music students, it was absolute joy,” CRLS band director Robert Ponte said. “They looked like they were going to jump out of their skins. Wynton is the Michael Jordan of jazz, and they were going to play for him. You should have seen their faces.” Harvard and CRLS officials began working on a plan that would bring University and high school musicians together for the master class....