World-renowned Jazz artist Wynton Marsalis visits Lincoln, emphasizes value of music education

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Wynton Marsalis first started his career in music growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As the son of a music teacher, he got his first trumpet at the age of six, and by the time he was thirteen years old he was performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic.

On Thursday, Marsalis reflected on the power music has to express the human experience; one that might be at risk for students wanting to follow in his footsteps.

“Music deals with the world of the invisible, so thoughts, emotions, memories, all things that you can’t see. The world of music gets inside of that world and nourishes you if the music is of any value,” said Marsalis.

The jazz legend’s love of making music eventually led him to becoming the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize in music.

He also won nine Grammy Awards throughout his career.

In 1987, Marsalis founded Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, where he’s been the Artistic Director for nearly 40 years.

He told Channel 8 on Thursday that much of his success in music started in childhood.

“I think the main thing that helped me was just kind of love and curiosity about different types of music, and having really fantastic teachers and colleagues,” said Marsalis.

Earlier this year, he announced that he’ll be stepping down from his role at the Lincoln Center next year.

This news comes at a time when many music programs across the U.S. face risks due to the rising cost of instruments and budget cuts.

The nonprofit, Nebraskans for the Arts, is the state’s art advocacy organization and shared details on their Facebook about the proposed tariffs to brass and wind instruments; a lot like Marsalis’s famous trumpet.

“We need music for our kids, whoever you are, wherever you are, and we need the music programs to be better,” said Marsalis.

He also had a message for the Nebraskans fighting to keep funding for music education.

“I feel like we have to be more involved in our political process and understand that our tax dollars need to go into our kids,” he said.

Adding, “One thing is for sure, better band programs never hurt a society. If you can show me how, man, we had really great band programs and we ended up in much worse shape? That never happens.”

Marsalis has said he plans to continue mentoring and educating up and coming talent.

If you would like more information on the proposed tariffs to instruments, or the ways you can submit comments or concerns, you can click on this link here.

As for seeing Marsalis perform while in Lincoln, remaining tickets to his Lied Center performance on Friday can be accessed here.

Marsalis is also scheduled to perform during the Husker’s half-time show on Saturday.