Jazz singer to 'inspire' at 204 fundraising concert
When Matt Belsante found jazz, he found what inspires him.
As a seventh-grader in Naperville, he considered quitting the saxophone, but joined the jazz band instead and eventually found he loved to sing in the edgy, bluesy style.
"I was inspired to continue when jazz band was introduced to me," said Belsante, now a 30-year-old jazz recording artist and software product manager in Nashville. "It spoke to me, it was just different than classical. I really liked the vibe and the feel. It was a different style of music that really worked for me."
Jazz continued to inspire Belsante through his years at Neuqua Valley High School and Vanderbilt University.
Now inspiration is the theme of a concert Friday that will raise money for the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation in District 204.
Belsante, a 2003 Neuqua graduate, will perform as the grand finale of the Inspire 204 concert at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The show begins at 8 p.m. and will include musical performances by groups from each of the district's three high schools as well as presentation of awards for three named teacher recipients and one surprise winner.
The event is about "sharing wonderful stories about what's going on in our classrooms" and "shining a spotlight on good things happening in education here," said Susan Rasmus, executive director of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation.
It follows a 25th anniversary concert last year to celebrate a quarter-century of the foundation raising money for programs such as teacher grants, robotics clubs, marketing competitions and student-run computer repair efforts within the district.
"Every dollar we make is going back to help support the foundation and programs we support," Rasmus said.
Friday's concert is also a celebration of student talent, she said, and some students even will get to perform with a professional who once stood in their shoes.
Belsante will arrive Friday morning in Naperville and spend the day practicing with jazz groups and other ensembles at his alma mater. Then, after taking the stage themselves, some students will accompany Belsante as he sings several tunes from his third album released in January "When You're Smiling."
Belsante mainly has recorded versions of jazz standards, and that's what he'll be singing Friday night, with songs such as the album's title track, "When You're Smiling," a Frank Sinatra standard called "I've Got You Under My Skin" and a Bobby Darin tune called "More."
Music is a part-time gig for Belsante, who is a software product manager for a cancer research organization, but he's glad to be able to pursue his inspiration.
"It's been a great organic fun side career for me," Belsante said.
He cautions students with similar musical inspiration to stay true to their art and their calling in a world that's often about the bottom line.
"The music business is far more a business than it is about anything else," Belsante said. "But if you can stay true to yourself and what you love to do, you'll still find that it's a really satisfying business to pursue."
If You Go
What: Inspire 204
When: 8 p.m. Friday, March 20
Where: Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Who: Benefits Indian Prairie Educational Foundation in District 204
Cost: $25
Info: (630) 637-7469 or ipef204.org or tickets.noctrl.edu