Honoring and preserving the legacy of Duke Ellington
Celebrating the Legacy of Duke Ellington
Sunday, September 13, 20262:00 PM 3:00 PM
Duke Ellington Circle
Hosted by Mercedes Ellington and Tony Waag
Photograph by Kyle Martin
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Celebrate the legacy of legendary composer and bandleader Duke Ellington at the Duke Ellington Statue! This annual, free, outdoor event is presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts in collaboration with the American Tap Dance Foundation.
The celebration will be co-hosted by Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington’s granddaughter and Founder/Artistic Director of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, and Tony Waag, Founding Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation.
Enjoy an afternoon of swing, style, and rhythm featuring:
The Duke Ellington Center Big Band, led by Musical Director Eli Yamin, performing classic Ellington tunes and jazz favorites
Tap dancers, vocalists, and more, blending music, dance, and theatrical flair
Join us each year to honor Duke Ellington’s enduring legacy through music, dance, and celebration!
On April 29, Duke Ellington's birthday, Mercedes Ellington spoke with Soundboard, the Steinway & Sons Soundboard podcast on her grandfather's enduring influence and on her own career in dance and choreography. Visit steinway.com/soundboard to listen or subscribe to Soundboard wherever you podcast.
‘It’s interesting to see that all composers deal with the same struggles and the same big themes and the same questions of humanity.’
Mercedes Ellington
What’s Happening?
Don't miss out on some of our exciting events happening all year round. Join us for our next virtual event. We love you madly!
Photograph by Kyle Martin
Preserving the Legacy of Duke Ellington
Considered one of America's greatest composers, arrangers, and bandleaders, with over 3,000 compositions attributed to him, Duke Ellington is a seminal figure in the history of American music. It is our honor to preserve his legacy through education, documentation, and performance.
Photograph by Kyle Martin
“Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.”
— Duke Ellington