The Wayne State College Wildcat Big Band, Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble and Crazy Eight Brass Band will present a concert to raise money for the Jed O’Leary Memorial Scholarship Fund on Sunday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Wayne.

James “Jed” O’Leary graduated from Wayne State College in 1994 with a degree in Fine Arts and was an adjunct music instructor for Wayne State in addition to his job as a music teacher in Fremont.

His father, Dr. Jay O’Leary, was a professor of music at WSC for many years. O’Leary was Fine Arts division head at Wayne State College for 20 years. Dr. O’Leary and his son spent many summers devoted to Wayne State College music camp.

Jed O’Leary was killed in an automobile accident in March, and the music faculty at WSC wish to honor his memory and legacy of outstanding music education by establishing a scholarship fund in his name to benefit WSC music majors.

The concert will feature three area jazz ensembles. The WSC Wildcat Big Band, made up of WSC students and led by Dr. Josh Calkin, will present a set of classic big band charts. The Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kevin McLouth, is a big band from Norfolk consisting of many of the area’s best jazz musicians, including WSC music professors Dr. Karl Kolbeck, Dr. Josh Calkin, and Mrs. Kathi Angeroth. The Crazy Eight Brass Band is a modern Dixieland/Pop/Jazz/Fusion group featuring WSC music professors, students and former students.

The concert is free and open to the public with a reception to follow, and free-will donations will be taken to benefit the Jed O’Leary Memorial Scholarship Fund.

For further information, please contact Josh Calkin at (402) 375-7599 or e-mail jocalki1@wsc.edu.