by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Recording legend Sting and special guest Paul Simon proved the power of music on March 12th at a special performance benefiting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. The veteran musicians helped draw a sold-out crowd and raise more that $1 million for the school as they performed together, along with the students to create unforgettable music and memories for all in attendance.
Sting
The performance was the seventh installment of the “Performance Series of Legends” that the Ellington School has put on in support of their programs and this year’s program blew everyone away. Past performers have included Ellington alum Dave Chappelle, Patti LaBelle and Stevie Wonder (who was going to appear as a surprise guest, but due to a death in his family couldn’t make it.)
The students shattered all expectations from the stage showcasing expertise in music, dance, and song. It was unanimously agreed that this performance belonged alongside legends like Sting and Simon and that it showed great potential for any of the youngsters.
Sting opened the show with a song that epitomizes his own journey in music; “Englishman in New York”, a song about his first trip to New York as a young performer. How far he has come from that time–he was joined on stage by Simon, with whom he is currently touring and the duo performed duets of each others songs including “The Boxer,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “Brand New Day.”
Both veteran musicians offered encouragement to the young students and showed them the path that dedication and hard work on a craft can lead to. This year the Ellington School celebrates “40 Years of Being the Difference” and that message rang loud and clear with every note, voice and chord that left the stage.
A look inside:
