When iconic trumpeter Wynton Marsalis performs to a sold-out house at the Kennedy Center Sunday, he will no doubt be pleased with a large group of teens who have come to watch and further learn from the master. In many ways, these are his kids and they are known as the Capitol Jazz Project, who invite the public to watch them play Sunday on the Kennedy's Millennium Stage as part of "The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration."

As Marsalis would probably tell you, this is also an anniversary for himself, the Washington Performing Arts Society and, especially, the young musicians.

For it was almost three years ago that he initiated his Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People curriculum. In May 2008, he performed at Kennedy with his jazz orchestra, at which time an on-stage announcement heralded the official introduction of the Capitol Jazz Program, a grand partnership among himself, WPAS and the D.C. Public School System.

WPAS's ongoing Capitol Jazz Project brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People curriculum and WPAS teaching artists into D.C. middle schools for between six and 16 sessions.

Originally based at Hart, Hardy and Merritt middle schools, the Capitol Jazz Project has expanded to include Deal, Ron Brown, Sousa, Shaw and Columbia Heights middle schools, said WPAS spokeswoman Brenda Kean Tabor. "The project will celebrate its third year with a concert by some of the students on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage."

This is not child's play, however. The students are deeply engaged, to Marsalis' continued delight. When asked about future projects, he told Scholastica.com in a 2002 interview, "Jazz at Lincoln Center will continue to have programs for students of all sizes around the world, because that's what we like to do." And of his curriculum, he added, "I take the students at their own level, but realize that they respond positively to the authority of an adult as long as you don't beat them over the head with it."

For this free program, the project will play, among other selections, "Solar" by Miles Davis and "When the Saints Go Marching In." Capitol Jazz Alumni/Advanced Players will perform "Take the A-Train," a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that became the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra.

Approximately 90 kids who are taking part in the project will be WPAS guests at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis concert on Sunday evening, at which interim D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson will make remarks,