Bria Skonberg, an award-winning trumpeter, vocalist and composer, will perform at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center on Friday, Jan. 22. Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Theatre. Skonberg will be accompanied by The Bria Skonberg Quintet which features a powerhouse combination of emerging talent in the New York jazz scene. Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-745-3000 and 304-293-SHOW (7469).

A specialist in classic American hot jazz, Bria Skonberg expands the vocabulary and traditions of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet with worldly rhythms and modern jazz variance.

“Bria radiates an energy that is so refreshing to see, and her compositional chops are on par with her ability to swing,” says Bucky Pizzarelli, seven-string-guitar virtuoso and veteran Manhattan session musician. The Wall Street Journal declares that Skonberg is “? poised to be one the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation.”

Skonberg began performing professionally at age 16 as a big band singer doubling on trumpet. She has since performed as a bandleader and a guest artist at more than 50 jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China and Japan. Skonberg has headlined Symphony Space, Birdland, The Iridium, Dizzy’s and Caf� Carlyle.

Skonberg’s debut release “So Is The Day” peaked at No. 7 on the jazz radio charts. This project featured original compositions and NOLA inspired stylistic fusions. Skonberg has been awarded the Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing! Award (2015), DownBeat Magazine Rising Star (2013-2015), The New York Bistro Awards Outstanding Jazz Artist (2014), Hot House Magazine Best Vocal, Best Trumpet (2014-2015) and more. Bria was also a 2013 nominee for the Jazz Journalists’ Association Up and Coming Artist. She is an educator, co-director and co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp, and co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Festival which began in 2012.

Tickets for this unforgettable evening of jazz range from $23 to $35, depending on location. WVU Student tickets are $10 at the campus box offices (limit: one discounted ticket per valid WVU Student ID). Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-745-3000 and
304-293-SHOW (7469).

This event is part of the University Toyota University Arts Series produced by WVU Arts & Entertainment. For additional information, call 304-293-SHOW (7469), or visit events.wvu.edu. Stay connected with the latest event updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following @wvuevents.

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