GRAMMY Award Winning Bassist Christian McBride Connects with South Whidbey Youth
Music is a journey—of discovery, experience, and connection. That was on full display on May 28 when eleven-time GRAMMY Award winner Christian McBride met with students at South Whidbey High School. Part of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) Arts in Education initiative, the event brought the jazz icon to the high school band room for a unique opportunity for the student musicians, who had the chance to ask McBride about his career in music and anything else that came to mind.
“Our role as an arts hub extends beyond our walls and into the surrounding community,” said WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “Because of the generosity of our donors, we are able to have legends like Christian McBride & Ursa Major on our Mainstage and can offer opportunities for them to speak with the next generation of artists. Having one-on-one experiences like this is so impactful for our island youth, and it is our privilege to facilitate these life-changing moments. So many times the artists who speak to students can recall those moments in their own journeys when someone else encouraged them on an arts path. To see the joy on students' faces when they know they are experiencing something truly unique and transformative is incredibly meaningful for all of us involved.”
To date, the Arts in Education program—which was re-launched in 2024—has fostered arts experiences with island youth both at the local schools and on the WICA campus. In September 2024, the initiative brought acclaimed Kennedy Center vocalist, songwriter, composer, and music educator Martha Redbone to the WICA stage, followed in March 2025 by a special performance at WICA by the dynamic group Portland Taiko—treating local students to an interactive concert celebrating the masterful blend of traditional Japanese taiko drumming with a vibrant sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. In October, jazz students at the high school and middle school watched as The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass marched around the school auditorium, answered student questions, and played the iconic jazz music that has made the group one of America’s premier large brass ensembles.
Last week’s hour-long educational event with McBride preceded the jazz icon’s sold-out evening performance at WICA—part of the Whidbey Island Jazz Festival—which saw a full house of enthusiasts who had come to witness a legend in person. The inaugural Jazz Festival at WICA was a dynamic four-day event that included an acclaimed lineup of local, regional, and national talent, headlined by McBride and bringing artists like the Brubeck Brothers and Whidbey Jazz Residency to the Mainstage. The Arts in Education component of the programming was made possible by festival sponsorship and donor support, which enabled WICA to provide the high-level and personalized educational opportunity with McBride for local youth.
“It is an honor to bring this programming to our theatre and our community,” said Duncan. “At WICA, we are committed to arts education—whether that’s our Youth Summer Conservatory theatre camp in partnership with The Whidbey Institute, our Bridge Family Scholarship for local students interested in an arts path, or our adult educational opportunities like Bluegrass Jams. We work to ensure that the arts expand beyond the WICA campus and positively impact the lives of those around us. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, opportunities like our Arts in Education program really speak to our role here locally and regionally, and set the tone for the future of this arts organization.”
