Help Hope Live is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extend allowed by law and are held by Help Hope Live in the North-Central Catastrophic Illness Fund in honor of Diane Ellis. Please consider making a donation today.
Online at www.helphopelive.org/campaign/13083
By Phone: 800.642.8399
By Mail. Make checks payable to: Help Hope Live
Note in memo section: In honor of Diane Ellis
Please mail checks to: Help Hope Live
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
Check this webpage for regular updates about Diane Ellis.
Your donation will help her with:
Diane Ellis, 62, is an award-winning jazz educator, music teacher, and professional jazz and classical saxophonist.
During her 23-year teaching tenure at Arthur Dixon Elementary School in Chatham Diane taught general music classes and directed after-school jazz band programs for more than 650 students from kindergarten through eighth-grade, providing authentic experiences in music performance and knowledge about music careers. She mentored rising stars, such as Dixon alumnus Marquis Hill, first-place winner of the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition.
Her students actively participated in jam sessions sponsored by the Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC) at the Chicago Cultural Center and through Diane’s efforts Dixon became the first elementary school jazz band to compete at the annual All-City Jazz Band Competition.
Diane received her bachelor’s degree from Bradley University, where she attended on a full scholarship. She received an Educational Leadership Masters from Concordia University and a Masters in Jazz and Classical Music Performance from Northwestern University.
Prior to her teaching career, Diane spent years on the road as a professional musician. Her musicianship earned her seats in touring bands led by jazz greats Sonny Stitt, Jimmy McGriff and Charles Earland. Ellis comes from a jazz dynasty. Her uncles are trombonist Morris Ellis (d. 2017), leader of the long running Morris Ellis Orchestra, and saxophonist Jimmy Ellis, who taught and mentored generations of young players who have gone on to receive national recognition. Drummer Tony Smith has been her partner, visiting from out of town regularly to work with Diane’s students.
Diane has received numerous awards both as a musician and an educator.
Awards
NPR Trailer
In an internet piece called When Your Elementary Band Teacher Shows Up at Your Gig, featuring Marquis Hill, winner of the 2014 Thelonious Monk Award, Diane Ellis is headlined as an early and consistent mentor for Marquis, as she has similarly done for hundreds of her students over the past 23 years.
Summer Camp 2009
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Summer Camp 2009: Experience the exuberance of Diane Ellis’ inspirational teaching.
Jazz in the Alley with Diane Ellis
Jazz in the Alley was an historic south side Chicago jazz tradition in the 1970’s. Here is Diane playing at age 21 with her mentor and uncle, Jimmy Ellis.
Finale
Diane Ellis Benefit Finale Diane appears and she scats ...
Medical
Since the benefit, Diane’s family has been focused on getting Diane into the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab.
[more]
The sound of two trained hands playing the saxophone is music. What’s the sound of one-hand playing? [more]
Coming Soon!
DON BUDZINSKI - TheMotionDevotion.com • JOHN FOSTER BROOKS - Musician, Former student of Diane Ellis • JOAN COLLASO - Jazz Vocalist, Timeless Gifts • LAUREN DEUTSCH - Jazz Institute of Chicago • CURTIS ELLIS - Diane’s Brother • DIANE “L’il Sax” ELLIS - Herself • DELLA ELLIS - Stepmom • JOSEPHINE ELLIS - Mom • LENNIE BASS JONES - Diane’s Cousin • HANNAH MARKS - Social Media • DIANE CHANDLER-MARSHALL - Jazz Institute of Chicago • ADOLPH MCGOWAN & SEAN JEFFERSIN - Ujamaa Construction Home Repair • SUSAN OPPENHEIMER - Team Diane Supporter • TED OPPENHEIMER - Oppenheimer Family Foundation • ERIC SCHNEIDER - Musician • JUDITH E. STEIN - Hyde Park Jazz Society • CHARLENE & AL SWANSON - Diane’s Cousin and Team Diane Lead. Family link to TeamDiane • JOY THORTON - Social Media, Former student of Diane Ellis • ALMARIE WAGNER - Hyde Park Jazz Society • SELENA WATKINS - Dixon and Chatham Communities; Former student of Diane Ellis • MONICA CHAPMAN - Social Media Lead
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS “HELP DIANE MOVE AGAIN”
TeamDiane, We are the leadership team that fundraises and seeks support for Diane “L’il Sax” Ellis. We are a rotating leadership and urgently need volunteers.
Give what you can 1 hour a week or more …Join Us. Skills & Qualities Needed
Set #1
Piano: Kirk Brown
Bass: Yosef Ben Israel
Drums: Charles Heath IV
Drums: James Watts (student)
Vocals: Bobbi Wilsyn
Saxes: Ari Brown; Jarrard Harris
Trumpet: Ryan Nyther (Diane’s Former Student)
Conga Drums: Dr. Cuz
Set #2
Piano: Bethany Pickens
Piano: Robert Irving III
Bass: Kati Ernst
Drums: Greg Artry
Vocals: Maggie Brown
Saxes: Jabari Powell
Sax: Rajiv Halim
Set #3
Piano: Miguel De La Cerna
Bass: Junius Paul
Drums: Ernie Adams
Vocals: Dee Alexander
Clarinet: Eric Schneider
Sax: Juli Wood
Sax: John Foster Brooks
Trumpet: Orbert Davis
Set #4
Piano: Willie Pickens
Bass: Stewart Miller
Guitar: Mike Allemana
Drums: Charles Heath IV
Vocals: Joan Collaso
Sax: Richie Cole
Sax: Eric Schneider
Trombone: Audrey Morrison
Trumpet: Pharez Whitted
Closing ”’L’il Sax’ Rides Again” Written/Performed By Richie Cole With Rhythm Section
Finale
Piano: Willie Pickens
Bass: Junius Paul
Bass: Micah Collier (student)
Guitar: Mike Allemana
Drums: Jeremiah Collier (student)
Sax: Eric Schneider
Sax: Richie Cole
Sax: Isaiah Collier (student)
Sax: Juli Wood
Sax: Ernest Dawkins
Sax: Al Smith
Trumbone: Audrey Morrison
Vocals: Diane Ellis
312.266.1702
info@teamdianeellis.com
