Yorktown Heights, NY - The Justin Veatch Fund is hosting a jazz workshop on Saturday, Feb. 11th at the Yorktown Community & Cultural Center featuring jazz performer, composer and teacher Rory Stuart.

Stuart, who is a professor at the New School University Jazz Program in New York City has also taught clinics and workshops in Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and even Kazakhstan. Primarily a guitarist, Stuart specializes in advanced rhythmic concepts involving all instruments.

“This is a great opportunity for some of the Yorktown area’s young, talented musicians to be exposed to an artist with impeccable credentials in an intimate setting at very little cost,” says Jeffrey Veatch, The Fund president.  “Thanks to Mr. Stuart’s agreement to wave his fee as a charitable contribution to The Fund, the fee will only be $10 per student.” The workshop will be held at the Yorktown Teen Center room at the YCCC from 11am to 2pm.  Veatch says he expects about a dozen students who will be playing a variety of instruments including guitar, keyboards, bass and drums.  The workshop is also open to vocalists. “I expect we’re going to have a lot of fun with some serious learning on the side,” says Veatch, “and we hope it will end up in a nice jam session”.

The Rory Stuart Quartet has most recently released a new CD titled “So Rise Up”. Coda Magazine calls Stuart “one of the freshest new guitarists in Jazz”. His quartet, says Coda, “has the energetic flow of the highly acclaimed Coltrane Quartet.”

The Saturday jazz workshop is designed for young musicians and vocalists who have already developed a certain amount of proficiency but want to rise to a new level. There is still limited space in the workshop. Those interested should contact Veatch by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone (914) 772-1254.

The Justin Veatch Fund is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization created following the death of 17 year old Justin Veatch from an accidental drug overdose in 2008.  Veatch was an incredibly gifted singer, songwriter and musician whose music on the CD “Permagrin: The Music of Justin Veatch by the Ivoryton Piano Factory and Friends” has been enjoyed around the world.  The Fund’s programs are designed to honor his legacy by nurturing talented teen musicians.  The Fund will present its fourth annual music scholarship to a graduating high school senior in June and will conduct its third annual two day summer music workshop in August.  Jeffrey Veatch also has traveled to schools throughout our region to present a 40-minute multi-media program that tells what happened to Justin and how young people can take better care of themselves. Information about the fund and all its programs are available on its website http://www.thejustinveatchfund.org.

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