Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz, will host a series of five concerts this spring and fall to celebrate and showcase young women from the region who compose and perform their own brands of jazz. The "5 Fresh Takes on Jazz: Emerging Women Composers in Concert" events began on April 16 and will continue on Sundays, May 7, June 11, Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. The concerts will begin at 3 p.m. except for the May event, which will start at 3:30 p.m. The concerts will be followed by "Meet the Composer" receptions open to all attendees.

"5 Fresh Takes" will highlight five women who are diverse personally and musically. They arrived in the region from different states and continents, and they create music ranging from straight-ahead jazz to blends of jazz mixed with classical, folk, funk and rock.

Ages 25 to 33, the composers - Gosia Julia Maj, Tammy Huynh, Gina Benalcazar, Lora Sherrodd and Laura Lizcano - perform in their bands as singers and instrumentalists. All five have years of experience composing and performing; four have or are working toward a master's degree in jazz studies. All have released recordings of their original music or will be releasing one later this year.

Tickets to individual concerts are for general admission and for students. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.mickeysblackbox.com.

For more information on "5 Fresh Takes," contact Mickey's general manager Margaret Cooper at margaret@mickeysblackbox.com.