Marshall Hawkins and Seahawk Mojo will perform February 16th 2014, at the Esplanade Arts Center, 2181 W. Esplanade Avenue, San Jacinto. Admission is $20 for Online Pre-Sale and $25 at the door. Student tickets are $10 for Online Pre-Sale and $15 at the door.

Marshall Hawkins along with Seahawk MoJO will take listeners on a journey from Africa where music began with the drum through the new world and into modern music. Hawkins' delivery of his message of the unifying power of music makes this Black History Month celebration one for all ages, races, genders and backgrounds.

Hawkins founded Seahawk MoJO (Modern Jazz Orchestra) as a nonprofit organization created to share jazz and classical sounds with kids who are just starting to discover their musical aptitude.

In the late 1960s and ’70s, Hawkins played bass with legends such as The Miles Davis Quintet, Shirley Horn and Roberta Flack before forming his own quintet.

Along with many artists over the decades, Hawkins made Idyllwild his home in 1978. He is widly credited with establishing the jazz studies program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in 1986. At that time, the Academy (a program of USC) and Elliott-Pope Preparatory School across Highway 243, where Hawkins was coaching, worked jointly to provide academics and arts.

Seahawk MoJO is composed of former students and alumni of the academy who play when and where they are able as well as other musicians.

“That’s what makes it so unique,” Hawkins said. “The students are able to come back and play with the teachers. Any other group can come join the orchestra, too.” He added there can be as few as seven people and as many as 35, but each performance exposes the kids to connections between music and society.

Hawkins said the program is not meant to turn all kids into professional musicians but to make them cognizant of how important art is in their lives.

MUSIC AT THE CENTER is a fundraiser for The DVAC and its programs.  Guests receive two glasses of wine (or other beverage), appetizer, access to the current gallery exhibition as well as the concert.  Doors open at 6:00 pm with the concert beginning at 6:30 pm.