Dukes of Ellington 9/11 Star Spangled Banner Performance

A Special Tribute to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown

Members of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts male vocal ensemble, known as the Dukes of Ellington,  prepare to give a brief 9/11 concert performance in a tribute to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. /Photos by Nancy Shia

Music Department Chair Mary Jane Ayers and Principal John Payne show their pride in Duke Ellington School of the Arts male music ensemble, known as the Dukes of Ellington, preparing to do a 9/11 concert tribute to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown in the stairway landing of their swing space at the historic Garnet Patterson Junior High School. 

Kodili Ukeekwe, 17-year-old senior, and Aristide Ventura, 14-year-old freshman prepare to give a 9/11 concert  in a specially prepared rendition of the Star Spangled Banner as a tribute to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

Steven Allen, music instructor and director of the Dukes of Ellington male vocal ensembla, stands with MaryJane Eyers, Chairman of the Vocal Music Department at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

Construction on the theater in the swing space where Duke Ellington School of the Arts is located has not been completed yet.    Now, when the school does performances for students, they perform in the stairway landing between the first and second floor of Garnet Patterson Middle School, where the arts classes are being held.  The students will be glad their performance space is completed. /Photos by Nancy Shia 

 Principal John Payne, affectionately known as Father Payne, tells the students where he was on 9/11/01, and what went on at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts the day the planes hit the Twin Towers.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 Music instructor Steven Allen directs the school's male vocal ensemble, known as the Dukes of Ellington, in a special rendition of the Star Spangled Banner in a tribute to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

During the finale of the Star Spangled Banner, the Dukes of Ellington either pull up their hoods or raise their hands in tribute to Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown during a 9/11 concert at their school.  /Photos by Nancy Shia

(c)  All photographs in this posting are the copyright property of Nancy Shia.  Written permission from the photographer is necessary before any use of the photos is made.  Contact at nancyshia@yahoo.com