By Mary Mares-Awe—THIS YEAR, CHICAGO WAS DESIGNATED as the global lead city to celebrate International Jazz Day. More than 150 attendees gathered on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Roosevelt University’s Fainman Lounge in downtown Chicago to participate in the Fulbright Chicago Chapter’s homage to jazz.
While hundreds of performances took place across the city, our chapter was a proud part of the official festivities, even earning a listing on the city’s official calendar of events for the day.
The event was attended by a vibrant community of Fulbright alumni, international students, and scholars, along with distinguished representatives from the Consulates General of the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Brazil, and the Republic of Poland.
Each consulate sponsored a performance group from their respective country, highlighting the power of diplomatic collaboration. “Without the partnership of the consulates, this evening would not have been possible,” said Mary Mares-Awe, a board member of the Fulbright Chicago chapter and the evening’s mistress of ceremonies. Chapter President Adam Fuss added, “The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association is extremely grateful to the participating consulates for their support and partnership.”
The evening was truly international in scope. The opening act featured Czech-born singer Martina Bárta, accompanied by Italian jazz pianist Tommaso Perazzo. The duo wowed the crowd with Barta’s soulful renditions of beautiful compositions, such as Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now” and a version of “Misty” with Czech lyrics. Describing the antique grand piano provided by the Fainman Lounge, Bárta commented on the “beautiful instrument” and its “beautiful sounds.”
Representing the Czech consulate were Mrs. Monika Uteseny, wife of Consul General Jakub Uteseny, and Martina East. Ms. East noted that the performance space was “exceptionally beautiful.”
Following the duo’s performance, guests were treated to a selection of refreshments, providing an opportunity for networking and camaraderie.
The next act featured Polish jazz pianist Artur Dutkiewicz, accompanied by Ethan Philion on bass and Sebastian Kuchczyński on drums. Sebastian received a resounding round of applause after Mares-Awe announced during the band’s introduction that he is a current Fulbright Scholar at the University of Miami. Dutkiewicz’s virtuoso piano skills were a highlight of the night, leaving the audience glued to their seats.
The third act of the festival was Chicago Samba, led by Moacyr “Mo” Marchini. Based in Chicago, this group has been entertaining audiences for 36 years, and all the ensemble’s musicians are from Brazil. Their energetic sounds echoed throughout the performance space, making it difficult for anyone to sit still. The band expertly mixed Samba rhythms with Brazilian classics, such as Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema” and the song “Brazil.”
“I’m a huge fan of jazz and it was a real treat to be part of this event,” said Mr. Leonardo Fontes Hoffmann, from the Brazilian consulate. Also in attendance from the Brazilian consulate were Consul General Reinaldo Salgado and Deputy Consul General Sergio Carvalho de Toledo Barros, who both equally enjoyed the evening’s music.
The final act of the night featured Swiss-born guitarist, composer, and bandleader Sam Mösching and his group, Samuel Mösching’s Ethereal Kings. Their original fusion jazz compositions reverberated through the audience, providing a modern and sophisticated conclusion to the program.
It was a perfect close to an evening that was widely considered a great success.
This was the third International Jazz Day celebration hosted by Fulbright Chicago since UNESCO inaugurated the global event 15 years ago. The successful evening was organized by Mary Mares-Awe, Eleftheria Lialios and Stephen Buckman from the Outreach and Events Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association.
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 