Presented during Jazz Appreciation Month, the April 12 concert at Dillard High School Center for the Arts brings together past and present in a way that reflects the program’s long-standing tradition of excellence and continuity. Former director Christopher Dorsey—who led the band during the student years of both Voshaun A. Smith and Anthony Hervey—returns as guest conductor, while Smith now leads the program as Director of Bands. Headlining the evening is Hervey, a graduate of Dillard’s nationally recognized jazz program who has gone on to establish a professional career on the national and international stage. Together, this moment highlights the enduring strength of the Dillard jazz legacy, where generations of musicians remain connected through education, performance, and the ongoing development of the art form within the community.
Christopher Dorsey served as band director and head of the jazz program at Dillard High School Center for the Arts from 2004 through 2022. Over that approximately 18-year tenure, he developed the ensemble into a nationally recognized program, with repeated appearances and top finishes at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. His leadership established a standard of excellence that shaped generations of student musicians—including both Smith and Hervey—and continues to define the program today.
Anthony Hervey attended Dillard High School Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, where he performed with the nationally recognized jazz program and participated in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. During his time there, he earned multiple Outstanding Trumpet Soloist honors and received the Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Soloist Award as a senior, marking his early development as a standout young artist within one of the country’s leading high school jazz ensembles.
After graduating from Dillard, he attended The Juilliard School in New York, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 2019 and a Master’s Degree in 2020. While there, he co-founded the quartet Citizens of the Blues with fellow students, focusing on groove-centered, swing-based repertoire, and in February 2020 opened for tenor saxophonist Branford Marsalis. He also appeared on bassist Christian McBride’s 2019 Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue big band album For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver, joining the recording session on short notice—an early professional credit that reflected his growing national presence.
Frequently called upon to substitute for Wynton Marsalis—who has mentored him and describes him as “a beautiful trumpet player of the first magnitude”—Hervey has toured, performed, and recorded with leading artists including Christian McBride, Jon Batiste, and Michael Bublé. He currently serves on the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, teaching Jazz Trumpet in the Roots, Jazz, and American Music program. As a bandleader, he leads the Anthony Hervey Quintet, presenting original compositions that blend traditional jazz language with broader influences, and is featured on his debut album Words From My Horn. He continues to perform regularly with major ensembles including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, with appearances at leading venues and festivals in the United States and internationally.
The jazz program at Dillard High School Center for the Arts has built a national reputation as one of the leading high school jazz ensembles in the United States. Based in Fort Lauderdale, the program is known for its disciplined approach, deep respect for jazz tradition, and consistent development of young musicians who continue on to professional careers. Under longtime leadership and a structured, performance-focused curriculum, the band has become a regular representative of Florida on the national stage, with a track record that reflects both musical excellence and educational depth.
A major part of that recognition comes through participation in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, widely regarded as the premier high school jazz competition in the country. Hosted annually by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, the program selects approximately 15 top bands from across North America to compete after a rigorous audition process. Dillard has been a frequent finalist and standout participant, including earning back-to-back first-place finishes in 2011 and 2012 and returning regularly as a contender among the nation’s top programs. More recently, the band achieved a second-place national finish in 2019, further reinforcing its sustained excellence.
Through its continued success, the Dillard High School Jazz Band has established itself not only as a top-performing ensemble, but also as a significant contributor to the pipeline of emerging jazz talent, maintaining a strong connection between education and the broader professional jazz community.
Dillard High School has deep roots in the history of Fort Lauderdale’s African American community. Its origins trace back to the early 20th century with the establishment of one of the first public schools for Black students in Broward County, created during a period of segregation when educational opportunities were limited. Over time, the school expanded beyond elementary grades and evolved into a full secondary institution, becoming a central part of the community’s educational and cultural life. Today, that legacy continues through Dillard High School Center for the Arts, where strong academic and performing arts programs—particularly in music—reflect a long-standing commitment to excellence and cultural expression.
A key figure in that history is Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, who served as band director at Dillard High School in the late 1940s and early 1950s before rising to international prominence as one of the leading alto saxophonists in jazz. Alongside his brother, Nat Adderley, he helped shape the soul jazz sound that became influential in the 1950s and 1960s. The brothers’ connection to Dillard represents a direct link between the school and the broader evolution of modern jazz, with Cannonball’s role leaving a lasting imprint on the school’s music program.
Voshaun A. Smith currently serves as Director of Bands at Dillard High School Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, where he leads the overall band program, including the jazz ensemble. A Fort Lauderdale native and graduate of Dillard High School (Class of 2016), he is a product of the same program he now directs, reflecting a strong continuation of the school’s musical tradition. He earned a degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University (FAMU), where he performed in multiple ensembles and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Since returning to Dillard, Smith has played a key role in maintaining and advancing the program’s reputation for excellence. Under his leadership, student ensembles have consistently earned superior ratings at district and state assessments, appeared at community venues throughout Fort Lauderdale, and participated in national-level events such as the Jazz Education Network Conference. In addition to directing the jazz band, he also leads the wind orchestra and marching band, emphasizing both musical achievement and student development. His work reflects a focus on continuity within the Dillard tradition while preparing the next generation of musicians for continued success.
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