UNITED Music School Summer Jazz Performance at Wilcox Park
UNITED Music School Summer Jazz Performance at Wilcox Park gives student musicians the stage for a free outdoor concert in downtown Westerly on Sunday, August 16. Beginning at 1 p.m., the performance brings the Music School’s summer jazz program into Wilcox Park, turning an afternoon of study and rehearsal into a live performance for the community.
The concert is part of a larger music education program at the UNITED that emphasizes actually getting students in front of audiences. The school’s programs use both the UNITED Theatre and nearby Knick Music Lab for instruction, rehearsals and performance opportunities, with students learning how to work together as an ensemble rather than limiting their education to individual lessons. (United Theatre)
And for this concert, admission is free. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a spot in Wilcox Park and hear what the students have been working on over the summer. If weather doesn’t cooperate, the performance moves indoors to the Knickerbocker Music Lab.
From the Music School to the Stage
The UNITED Music School is based inside the restored UNITED Theatre complex on Canal Street, just a short walk from Wilcox Park.
The school offers music education and performance opportunities for people across different ages, income levels and abilities. The larger goal isn’t simply teaching someone how to play an instrument. UNITED describes its education program as a way to develop creative thinkers, leaders and lifelong learners through music and the arts.
Performance is a significant part of that approach.
The Music School’s student ensembles give young musicians experience rehearsing as a group and then taking that work onto an actual stage. Its auditioned A Band Called PoP, for example, includes students from high schools across southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut and combines music education with leadership, planning and collaborative decision-making.
The school also operates Youth On-the-Mic at the Knick Music Lab, giving students in grades 6 through 12 a supportive place to perform for an audience. The program is now in its seventh year.
The Summer Jazz Performance follows the same basic idea: music is learned in rehearsal, but eventually it’s meant to be played for somebody.
An Afternoon of Student Jazz
Jazz is particularly well suited to ensemble education.
Students have to listen to one another, keep time, understand their place within an arrangement and react to what the musicians around them are doing. Improvisation adds another challenge, asking a player to make musical decisions in real time rather than simply reproduce notes from a page.
The August 16 performance gives the Summer Jazz students an opportunity to put those skills together in front of a live audience.
A specific setlist and student lineup have not been announced, so audiences should expect a showcase of the summer program rather than a conventional touring concert with a predetermined program.
A Music School with Westerly Roots
The UNITED’s music education program has an interesting connection to Westerly’s long musical history.
The UNITED campus includes the Knick Music Lab, housed at the historic Knickerbocker Music Center at 35 Railroad Avenue. The Knickerbocker has been associated with live music in Westerly for generations, particularly blues and jazz. The Knickerbocker All Stars, for example, take their name and inspiration from the venue’s history of hosting prominent jazz and blues musicians.
Today, UNITED uses the Knick as a creative hub for students and working artists, hosting rehearsals, recording, masterclasses, residencies, teen programs and live performances.
That makes it a fitting rain location for a student jazz concert.
About the UNITED
The UNITED itself is celebrating a major anniversary in 2026.
The theater first opened in Westerly as a vaudeville house in 1926 before eventually becoming a movie theater. It closed in 1986 and remained dark until a community effort began transforming the building and the neighboring former Montgomery Ward property into a modern arts complex.
Following a major two-year renovation, the UNITED reopened in July 2021.
Today the complex includes a 750-capacity performance space, three cinemas, gallery and event space and the UNITED Music School. Its programming extends from concerts and independent film to theater, dance and arts education.
The Music School’s summer performance takes that work out of the building and into the center of Westerly.
An Outdoor Concert in Wilcox Park
Wilcox Park sits in the heart of downtown Westerly, adjacent to the Westerly Library and within walking distance of the UNITED.
The 1 p.m. start makes this an easy addition to a Sunday afternoon downtown. Since the concert is free, families can stop by without committing to a full ticketed event.
For an outdoor performance, bring a blanket or portable lawn chair and consider sunscreen and water for an August afternoon.
What Happens if It Rains?
There is already an indoor backup plan.
If weather prevents the concert from taking place in Wilcox Park, the performance will move to the Knick Music Lab at 35 Railroad Avenue in Westerly.
The Knick is part of the UNITED campus and serves as a regular performance and education venue for the Music School.
Check with the UNITED before leaving home if the weather looks questionable.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wilcox Park
Address: 44 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Admission: Free
Presented By: UNITED Music School
Performance: Summer Jazz Performance
Recommended For: All ages, including families and anyone interested in supporting young and developing local musicians.
Seating: Outdoor park setting. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Rain Location: Knick Music Lab, 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI
Contact: info@unitedtheatre.org
Important Note: Because the primary performance is outdoors, check with the UNITED for any weather-related move to the Knick Music Lab.
