"Winter Jazz" is scheduled for the evenings of Friday, Feb. 29 and Saturday, March 1. The program will be held in the Brubeck Room of the Wilton Library.

The Wilton Singers are producing the program and have invited special guest musicians to participate. Featured guest artists will include the world-renowned vibraphonist Arthur Lipner, percussionist Nanny Assis, the remarkable 12-year-old jazz violinist Jonathan Russell, and NYC pianist/arranger Ron Drotos.

Arthur Lipner has emerged as one of the world's leading vibes and marimba players. His live performances and recorded projects convey an exuberant drive of creativity and depth. Arthur's travels around the globe as a jazz musician and percussionist continue to delight audiences and critics alike.

He recently completed his third jazz tour of Brazil, where one of his performances was at the Lima Jazz Festival. Brazilian music has become an integral part of Arthur's activities in recent years, and he is preparing a collection of Brazilian music arranged for solo marimba. His wife, Kathy Caprino, is a member of the Wilton Singers.

Nanny Assis started his career as a drummer and percussionist and has turned into a brilliant multiform musician. He developed his music skills at the Federal School of Arts and Music in Bahia-Brazil. He is also an awesome singer and composer heavily influenced by Chet Baker and Joao Gilbertos.

Nanny Assis has become one of the top percussionists in the Brazilian music industry. He is sought after by world-class musicians for both studio recordings and live performances.

Twelve-year-old Jonathan Russell lives in New York City. A Suzuki-trained musician, Jonathan learns easily by ear, but also reads and writes music. While skillful at adapting any of the jazz standards, his heart is in the Traditional, Dixieland and Swing genres -- the true roots of jazz.

He attends the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, studies Suzuki violin at the School for Strings with Allen Lieb, and does his jazz studies with Grammy Award winner Andy Stein of Prairie Home Companion's Shoe Band. In 2006, Jonathan had the honor of being the youngest jazz musician ever invited to play in a master class at Jazz at Lincoln Center taught by Regina Carter.

Ron Drotos, who took over as Music Director for the Wilton Singers this past September, is a well-known music arranger, composer and pianist, equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, gospel, classical and musical theater genres.

After graduating from The University of Connecticut with a degree in Music Composition, Mr. Drotos studied with such notable jazz pianists as Billy Taylor, Harold Danko and Andy LaVerne. In 1995, he was the Associate Musical Director/Conductor for the Tony-nominated Broadway musical, Swinging on a Star for which he also contributed arrangements and orchestrations. Another of his Broadway credits includes Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Ron is in demand as a pianist, and collaborates with many top cabaret and jazz singers. He has performed at the Blue Note jazz club in New York City, and is internationally known as a composer of choral music. Each summer, Mr. Drotos travels to Alaska where he teaches Cabaret Performance and Music Theory classes at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Ron is married to former Wiltonian and WHS graduate, Megan Friar.

The 28-member Wilton Singers organization, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary year, is producing this special mid-winter concert. The singers will be adding their voices to the program offering such audience favorites as the jazzy Manhattan Transfer arrangements of "All the Things You Are" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."

Tickets for the concert can be purchased for $20 by phoning Beth Mason at 762-2906, or can be purchased online at http://www.wiltonsingers.com. Seating is limited, and there will be no reserved seating either night. Proceeds will go toward the Wilton Singers Scholarship Fund, which annually honors selected graduates of the WHS Madrigal Singers.