Seattle’s award-winning Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble, led by director Clarence Acox, will perform Saturday, Oct. 18 at 2:30 p.m., at the Lopez Island Community Center.

The Ensemble is a 30-member jazz band comprised of Seattle students from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds. It recently took second place in the 2008 Essentially Ellington competition in New York City.

The event benefits the Lopez School Music Advocacy Foundation, led by Lopez Island’s Dean Jacobsen, who started the foundation to enrich local students’ music education through in-school workshops.

Jacobsen has brought some top jazz and blues artists to Lopez Island. Pearl Django performed a sold-out concert this winter, and shared their expertise with youth during school workshops. The Bernie Jacobs Quartet and Clarence Acox with his Seattle Quintet also held workshops and an assembly for Lopez Island students.

Tickets are $15; Lopez Island students are admitted free, but seating is limited. Tickets are available at www.lopezcenter.com, Paper Scissors on the Rock, Blossoms Organic Grocery, Islehaven Books, Islandale Southender.