Play On

Featuring Victor Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra

Wednesday, October 28

Doors & Salsa Lessons 6pm · Show 7:30pm

City Winery Chicago – West Loop

1200 W Randolph St

Experience an unforgettable night of world-class Latin jazz and salsa dancing while making a difference for the next generation of musicians. Join Merit School of Music at City Winery for the 8th annual Play On Benefit Concert, a special evening dedicated to expanding access to high-quality music education for young people across Chicago.

The night’s headliner is acclaimed jazz trumpeter Victor Garcia and his Latin Jazz Orchestra, whose electrifying performance promises to captivate audiences from the first note to the last. You’ll also hear from Merit’s talented Honors Jazz Combo, showcasing the remarkable students whose futures are shaped by your support. Come early to join us for a salsa dancing lesson so you can dance the night away during the show!

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Sponsor Play On

Interested in sponsoring Play On? Click the button below to complete our online sponsorship form. If you have any questions or would like to submit a payment via check, please contact Amy Riske at ariske@meritmusic.org.

Sponsor Play On

Thanks to all who joined us at Play On 2025, featuring Resavoir, Mamey, and Merit’s Honors Jazz Combo!

It was a night of gorgeous music from Merit students past and present as we joined together to raise money to support equal access to high-quality music education in Chicago.

Stay tuned for Play On 2026 dates and information!

Victor Garcia

Grammy-nominated Victor Garcia is a musical force to be reckoned with! Examiner.com’s Neil Tesser calls him “one of the most exciting young musicians.” Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich says that he “stands out as an ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone.” JazzChicago.net’s Brad Walseth regards him as a “young lion trumpeter.”

Garcia is as versatile as he is creative. His trumpet talent heralds his international acclaim. He sings, plays percussion, and his songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University and the University of Illinois in Chicago.

The lineup of greats Garcia has performed with speaks for itself: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Christian McBride, Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, The Isley Brothers, and Dr. John. He released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018 and he’s recorded on dozens of other albums, three of them Grammy-nominated.

Honors Jazz Combo

The Honors Jazz Combo, under the direction of Alex Beltran, is Merit’s premier jazz performing ensemble comprised of the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory’s most advanced student jazz musicians. Students audition for the program on an annual basis and hail from all over the greater Chicagoland area.