May 6th, 2024
Peter Norton Symphony Space
Mercedes Ellington with co-host Tony Waag assembled a cast of artists to celebrate and represent, in what Duke brilliantly characterized, “The City of Jazz.” Honored guest artist Eight-time Grammy Award winner Arturo O’Farrill and the dynamic Bobby Sanabria. Eli Yamin, musical director with The Duke Ellington Center Big Band.
Thank you the cast and crew; Arturo O’Farrill, Bobby Sanabria, Eli Yamin, Jennifer Vincent, Alvester Garnett, Jason Curry, Chris Byars, Jason Brandford, Jason Jackson, Ravi Best, Sandra Billingsley, Sidney Meyer, Antoinette Montague, Nicholas King, Marion Cowings, Ty Stephens, AC Lincoln, Max Pollak, Sharon K. Janda, Lisa La Touche, Karen Callaway Williams, Mark Mindek, Vanda Polakova, Michael Choi, Valerie Levine,Tap City Youth Ensemble, the Rockettes, Orlando Hernandez, Jessee Leigh Robinson, Funmi Sofola, Kaleena Miller, Karuna Aikawa, Ellis Greenberg, Poppy Lee-Slovin, Marly McGrath, Ace Ramsey, Sebastian Sinclair, Kyleigh Vickers, Stephanie Bishop, Danielle Jolie Dale-Hancock, Ashlee Fife, Cassandra Palacio, Michelle Tolson Rachel Tucker, Tony Waag, Miles Purinton, Adria Rolnik, Sloane Fischer, Kevin Rabinovich, Ken Feldman, Samantha Weiser, Karyn Tomczak, Michael Stever, Susan Hebach. And very special thank you to our audience and the supporters of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts. May the experience of everyone who was there ripple out and spread love and joy in the world!

May 9th-11th, 2024
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Mercedes Ellington has been invited as a special guest to Essentially Ellington at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The 29th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is May 9–11, 2024! A free program for high school jazz bands, Essentially Ellington aims to elevate musicianship, broaden perspectives and inspire performance.

Saturday, Apr 27, 2024- Monday, Apr 29, 2024
Kennedy Center | Ellington 125
Beyond Category at The Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center recently hosted a memorable event celebrating Duke Ellington, with Mercedes Ellington, his granddaughter, making invaluable contributions. From a captivating dance class to insightful panel discussions, her presence added a profound familial connection, highlighting the enduring legacy of Duke Ellington. Accompanied by Tony Waag, their combined expertise enriched the event, resonating with audiences across generations. The occasion culminated in a special dance version of the Millennium Stage, featuring the swingin' tunes of the Jazz Houston Orchestra, with Mercedes Ellington herself among the honored guests, honoring her grandfather's enduring influence on music and dance.

Sunday, December 10, 2023
A NIGHT AT THE ELLINGTON
A Special Event with Performances by Musicians, Vocalists and Dancers. A Special Event with Performances by Musicians, Vocalists and Dancers. Presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and The American Tap Dance Foundation Co-Hosted by Mercedes Ellington & Tony Waag. Musical Director Eli Yamin with Dave Gibson, Chip Jackson, Joie St. Hubert, and Mimi Block. The evening featured performances by vocalists Marion Cowings, Kent Drake, Sharon K. Janda, Antoinette Montague and Ty Stephens, and tap dancers A.C. Lincoln, Dewitt Fleming Jr. and Karen Callaway Williams plus Bonnie Mattalian, Miles Purinton, Craig Purinton, and Karen Tomczak.

May 21st, 2023
Happy Birthday Duke Ellington!
The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts made its long-awaited return to the Duke Ellington Statue in Harlem for one of our signature events. There was a grand celebration of all things Ellington! The concert was hosted by the incomparable Mercedes Ellington and Tony Waag, and features the DECFA Big Band with musical director Eli Yamin, with performances from Marion Cowings, Kent Drake, Sharon K. Janda, Nicholas King, AC Lincoln, Michela Marino Lerman, stilt-dancer Mark Mindek, Antoinette Montague, Max Pollak, and Andrea Wright. Plus, a special appearance by Harlem Samba under the direction of Dr. Dana Monteiro.

December 11th, 2022
A Night at The Ellington!
Presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and The American Tap Dance Foundation Co-Hosted by Mercedes Ellington & Tony Waag. The evening featured performances by piano virtuoso Frank Owens performing Duke Ellington's iconic holiday masterpiece, The Nutcracker Suite. The holiday celebration featured the talents of The Danny Mixon Quartet, Antoinette Montague, Sharon K. Janda, Marion Cowings, Ty Stephens, Kent Drake, AC Lincoln and Karen Callaway Williams

July 31st, 2022
A Night at The Ellington!
A Special Event with Performances by Musicians, Vocalists and Dancers. Musical Director Eli Yamin. Presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and The American Tap Dance Foundation Co-Hosted by Mercedes Ellington & Tony Waag. The evening featured performances by vocalists featuring the incredible talents of Antoinette Montague, Danny Mixon, Sharon K. Janda, and Andrea Wright

April 30th, 2023
A Night at The Ellington!
A Special Event with Performances by Musicians, Vocalists and Dancers. Musical Director Eli Yamin. Presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and The American Tap Dance Foundation Co-Hosted by Mercedes Ellington & Tony Waag. The evening featured performances by vocalists Marion Cowings, Sharon K. Janda and Antoinette Montague, and tap dancers A.C. Lincoln, Karen Callaway Williams plus surprise guests.

October 23rd, 2022
A Night at The Ellington!
DECFA returned to The Ellington after our FABULOUS performance over the summer. Hosted by Mercedes Ellington and featured The Danny Mixon Trio, Marion Cowings, A.C. Lincoln, and Ty Stephens. With special appearances by Frank Owens and Kent Drake.

August 2022
The University of Michigan
Mercedes Ellington was invited to speak to the cast/crew of Sophisticated Ladies at University of Michigan. Mercedes was in the original 1980 cast and a choreographer. The musical is set in the 1920’s to the music of Duke Ellington and her father Mercer Ellington was the original musical conductor. The students were mesmerized by her amazing stories, sage advice, and experience! Tony’s Awards from 1981.

July 31, 2022
A Night at The Ellington!
Hosted by Mercedes Ellington and Duke Ellington Big Band with featured performance by the incredible talents of Antoinette Montague, Danny Mixon, Sharon K Janda and Andrea Wright.

Sunday, September 19th, 2021
Happy Birthday Duke Ellington!
This annual event is co-produced by the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and the American Tap Dance Foundation to commemorate Duke Ellington’s birthday. The event was free & open to the public, co-hosted by Mercedes Ellington & Tony Waag and featured performances by the Duke Ellington Center Big Band and a host of musicians, dancers and vocalists.

February 14th, 2021
Valentine's Love Fest!
Presented by Music on the Inside, The American Tap Dance Foundation and the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts. Valentine’s Love Fest featuring: Michael Choi & Vanda Polakova, Max Pollak, DeWitt Fleming, Jr, Antoinette Montague, Richard Miller & Vanessa Falabella, Mercedes Ellington, and Tony Waag. Presented in collaboration with our friends at Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and the American Tap Dance Foundation, Music on the Inside, Inc. (MOTI) brings music education and hope to individuals impacted by incarceration with Richard Miller and Executive Producer Alina Bloomgarden. Sunday concert features formerly incarcerated musicians alongside jazz and pop luminaries.

September 20, 2020
The Great Reunion: Armstrong & Ellington
The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts proudly presented this virtual concert celebrating the collaboration of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Mercedes Ellington and Tony Waag, they guide you through the history of Armstrong & Ellington, accompanied by some of our favorite artists. There were performances from Michael Choi, Marion Cowings, Kent Drake, DeWitt Fleming Jr., Jennie Harney Fleming, Sharon K. Janda, Nabuko Kiryu, Glafkos Kontemeniotis, AC Lincoln, Antoinette Montague, David Ostwald, Vanda Polakova, Ty Stephens, Karen Callaway Williams, Andrea Wright, Eli Yamin, and James Zollar. Plus, a special performance of "What a Wonderful World" from the legendary André De Shields of Hadestown.

June 21, 2020
The City of Jazz
The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts proudly presented a virtual concert on Father's Day, 2020, inspired by Duke Ellington’s poem The City of Jazz.
Hosted by the iconic duo of Mercedes Ellington and Tony Waag, the concert featured the talents of A.C. Lincoln, Frank Owens, Sharon K. Janda, Glafkos Kontemeniotis, Malik McLaurine, Dave Chamberlain, Michael Choi & Vanda Polakova, Antoinette Montague, Jason Curry, Karen Callaway Williams, Ty Stephens, James Zollar, Nabuko Kiryu, and Marion Cowings performing many of your jazz favorites. Plus a Q&A followed hosted by Mark Mindek.

The Duke Ellington Big Band at Birdland
Monthly Performance Series honoring the jazz great Duke Ellington hosted and presented by Mercedes Ellington, Artistic/ Founder of DECFA and Tony Waag, Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF). The Ellington Performance Series celebrates jazz music and tap dance.

June 4th, 2020
Mercedes Ellington, the President of DECFA, joined host Eddie Muller as @turnerclassicmovies screens classic films featuring jazz legends (including Cabin in the Sky). Mercedes and Eddie introduced each film, and Mercedes shared stories and trivia about her grandfather, the one and only Duke Ellington. Watch

May 24, 2020
Conversations on Tap with Mercedes Ellington and Tony Waag
Watch on YouTube

April 29, 2020
Happy Birthday Duke! DECFA (Duke Ellington Center for the Arts) know that "Things Ain't What They Used To Be," and we "Don't Get Around Much Any More," so we're coming to lift you up while we're ALL in our "Solitude," to bring "Duke's Place," to you! Mercedes Ellington - Mistress of Ceremonies, Artistic Director, Producer, Princess Rivera - Q & A Host, Producer Special guest artists, "Those Rabbits," Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter! Featured performances by Antoinette Montague,Vocalist, Ty Stephens,Vocalist, Marion Cowings,Vocalist, AC Lincoln,Vocalist, Sharon K Janda,Vocalist, Tony Waag, Vocalist and Taps, Karen Callaway Williams, Taps, Frank Owens, Piano, Malik Kiyoshi McLaurine, Bass, James Zollar, Trumpet, Jason Curry, Clarinet and Alto Saxophone, David Chamberlain, Trombone, Ethan Fein, Guitar. (Video Above)

Sunday, November 3, 2019
Cracker Jazz, compositions from Duke Ellington’s 1960 Nutcracker Suite. Mercedes Ellington, Tony Waag and the Duke Ellington Center's Big Band conducted by multi Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria, join together to honor this legendary icon of American Jazz. Included in the program are special appearances by jazz vocalists Sharon K. Janda, Antoinette Montague and Ty Stevens as well as tap dance performances by DeWitt Fleming, Jr., Felipe Galganni, members of the Tap City Youth Ensemble, Karen Callaway Williams and belly dancer Anna Pipoyan. Birdland, 315 West 44th Street

Sunday, September 1, 2019
Sacred Sunday, the gospel According to Ellington
With music from the Sacred Concert, My People and more! Mercedes Ellington, Tony Waag and the Duke Ellington Center's Big Band conducted by Anthony Evans, join together in honor of this legendary icon of American Jazz with performances by the Sacred Sunday Gospel Choir, vocalist Jahneen Otis and tap dancer DeWitt Fleming. Birdland, 315 West 44th Street

Sunday, August 4, 2019
Ellington on Broadway, songs from the hit musicals Play On & Sophisticated Ladies
Mercedes Ellington, Tony Waag and the Duke Ellington Center's Big Band conducted by Frank Owens join together again in honor of this legendary icon of American Jazz  with performances by leading vocalists and Broadway performers Marion Cowings, Ty Stephens, Allyson Tucker Mitchell and Brian Stokes Mitchell as well as special appearances by Tap dancers Jason Samuels Smith and Karen Callaway Williams.Birdland, 315 West 44th Street

Friday, February 23, 2018
Greater New York Chamber of Congress Black History Awards Breakfast
Award to Governor David Paterson, Bill McCreary, Mercedes Ellington & others.
B. B. King’s
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Duke Ellington’s 119th Birthday Celebration
Duke Ellington Statue, Harlem, New York

Sunday, April 28, 2019
Duke Ellington’s 120th Birthday Celebration
Duke Ellington Statue, Harlem, New York

October 18, 2017
“Conversations with Mercedes Ellington”
Dr. David Schroeder & Mercedes Ellington
NYU/Steinhardt

December 20, 2017
“Ring Dem Bells” DECFA’s Annual Holiday Party
Performers included: Eli Yamin, James Zoller, Melissa Slocum, Malik McLaurine, A.C. Lincoln, Antoinette Montague, Tony Waag and surprise guests!
The Friars Club

September 14, 2017
Mercedes Ellington testifies before New York City Council in an effort to repeal New York City's Cabaret Law.
Council Member Espinal & Mercedes Ellington 
New York City Council

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Tap Awards, Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival
Duke Ellington is inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. Mercedes Ellington accepts the award. Thalia Theatre, Symphony Space
Friday, July 14, 2017 Tap Ellington is a musical celebration of a man’s life, his music and a unique legacy of introducing, promoting and presenting tap dancers to audiences all over the world. Master of ceremonies Tony Waag and the Duke Ellington Center Big Band conducted by Eli Yamin joined together in honor of this legendary icon of American Jazz with tap dance performances by emerging raw talent, contemporary soloists and leading tap masters including Brenda Bufalino, Ayodele Casel, Mercedes Ellington, Sarah Reich, Caleb Teicher, Sam Weber, Jossette and Joseph Wiggan and others. The Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 10 Columbus Circle

June 2, 2017
“June Taylor Dancer Mercedes Ellington Rare Footage Screening”
Mercedes Ellington shared her stories as the first (and only) African American member of the June Taylor Dancers on The Jackie Gleason Show Paley Center for Media

June 2017
Mercedes Ellington delivers Graduation Commencement Speech
Duke Ellington Elementary School PS 4

April 29, 2017
“Ellington Swings in Harlem”
Produced by DECFA & Mercedes Ellington, Vocalists Antionette Montague and Marion Cowings, Tap dancer Tony Waag with members of his American Tap Dance Foundation, Eli Yamin Orchestra with singers James Zollar and Claire Daly
Duke Ellington statue at 110th St. and 5th Avenue

June 2016 
Duke Ellington Elementary School PS 4
Mercedes Ellington delivers Graduation Commencement Speech

May 19-22, 2016
24th International Duke Ellington Study Group Conference
Film Screenings, Lectures, Panels, Awards, Performances, Luncheons & Dinners
Jazz on the Plaza, Paley Center for Media, St. Peter’s Church, MIST Harlem, Jazz at Kitano, Woodlawn Cemetery & Jazz at Lincoln Center

May 19 - May 22, 2016
“The 24th International Duke Ellington Study Group Conference”
Panels led by eminent scholars, Ellington family members, Performances by world renowned artists and Broadway celebrities, Tony Award-winning Sophisticated Ladies
Saint Peter's Church, MIST Harlem, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Jazz Museum, The Paley Center for Media

April 2016
International Women in Jazz
Honors the Great Mercedes Ellington, Q&A with Host Antoinette Montague and Book Signing.

April 5, 2016
“Boys' & Girls' Towns of Italy (BGTI) New York Spring Ball”
Honorees included Mercedes Ellington, Vincent Pastore, Charles S. Gucciardo, Esq., Karen King, Dr. Maurizio Forte and John Salvato

March 22, 2016
Book Publishing of Duke Ellington: An American Composer and Icon
Written by Steven Brower and Mercedes Ellington, Contributions by Dave Brubeck and Quincy Jones, Introduction by Tony Bennett
The Pierre Hotel

December 8, 2014
“Ring Dem Bells” DECFA’s Annual Holiday Party
Holiday Benefit hosted by Mercedes Ellington, Music by the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, With A Tribute to NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero, Vocalists: Lee Roy Reams, Steve Ross, Stacy Sullivan, Antoinette Montague, Walter Willison, Larry Marshall, Guest Pianist: Eugene Gwozdz, Directed by Pamela Hunt, Ballroom Dance by Michael Choi and Erin Marie, Tap by Karen Callaway Williams, Alex Cowings & Evan Ruggiero 
Landmark on the Park, 160 Central Park West at 76th Street

June 8, 2012
“Ellington Times Two”
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, Duke Ellington Center Big Band with Mercedes Ellington, Frank Owens, Vocalists: Marion Cowings, Antoinette Montague, Dance by Michael Choi and TO COME & Alex Cowings
Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College

June 13, 2011
“Frank Owens and Jon Weber Battle of the Bands”
Honoring Donald Saddler, 2011 recipient of the Duke Ellington “Beyond Category” 
Award Kaufman Center Merkin Concert Hall

December 6, 2010
The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts Annual Holiday Party
Live music, hor d’oeuvres, beverages!
The Parc Vendome Amenities Room