Conference Cancelled

Notice posted to website of Ellington 2020: 

Due to the spread of Covid-19, ALL PUBLIC EVENTS associated with this conference are now CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. Videos are scheduled to be be made of various presentations on the agenda, and these will be posted for the public to view at a later date. Thank you for your understanding.

This is sad news. Having been involved closely in the organisation of the 25th International Duke Ellington Study Conference in Birmingham UK two years ago, I know how hard Professor Anna Celenza will have worked to bring everything together for this conference. Admirers of the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn are in her debt. It is very encouraging to read that videos of the presentations will be made and published. In view of the challenges facing the world at present, the loss of one conference is perhaps not very much in the scheme of things but we cherish everything the conference stands for and the coming weeks and months can only serve to make us cherish all the more all we hold dearly.