Bryan Carter, a 2008 graduate of Sycamore High School and in his final year at The Juilliard School in New York, is preparing for his first tour with his New York-based quintet.
The concert tour, “Midwest Enchantment Tour,” will begin at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday, followed by performances in Milwaukee, Jefferson City, Mo., and DeKalb.
Carter noted the highlight of the tour will be his return home to DeKalb County to perform music from his CD, “Enchantment,” for family, friends and supporters. He will appear at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The House Cafe in DeKalb.
Carter, a two-time member of the IMEA All-State Honors Jazz Combo and the 2008 Grammy Jazz Ensemble, also performed with the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony and the Vail Jazz Workshop during his high school years.
Carter began studying music at the Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts at age 4. He studied Suzuki violin under Ann Montzka-Smelser and quickly developed a passion for music, especially jazz. His interest in music, particularly the drums, developed at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb, where he played regularly alongside his father, Ronald Carter, director of jazz studies at NIU.
Bryan Carter received drum lessons from jazz legends touring with the NIU Jazz Ensemble, and by the age of 11 had studied with such masters as Louie Bellson, Harold Jones and Carl Allen.
The Bryan Carter Quintet includes Bryan Carter on drums, Donald Vega on piano, Philip J. Kuehn on bass, Lucas Pino on tenor sax and Matt Jordell on trumpet.
Tickets cost $10 and are available at the main office at Sycamore High School or by calling 815-540-8809.