Sweeps Three High School Categories
California State University Long Beach
Big Band Wins College Division
Over Forty High School Groups From Around the Country Perform
Throughout the Weekend of March 23-25, 2007
Winning Groups to Perform at 50th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 21-23, 2007
37th National High School Jazz Competition
High School Combo, Vocal, and Big Band Division Winner: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
College Big Band Winner
California State University Long Beach
March 27, 2007; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 3rd Annual Next Generation Festival, incorporating the 37th Annual National High School Jazz Competition. Scoring an unprecedented three first places titles for the Combo, Vocal and Big Band High School Divisions is the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts with their Big Band, Combo G, and Vocal Ensemble from Los Angeles, California. The bands are directed by Jason Goldman, and Pat Bass is the director of the Vocal Ensemble.
The runner-up and third place awards in the Combo Category were the Liverpool High School Quartet, of Liverpool, New York and Buchanan High School of Clovis, California. In the Vocal Category, the runner-up position went to Hamilton High School of Los Angeles and the Folsom High School Jazz Choir “A" of Folsom, California placed third. In the Big Band Category, the runner-up third and place awards went to Buchanan High School of Clovis, California and the Folsom High School of Folsom, California.
Appearing at the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival from September 21-23, 2007 will be The Los Angeles County Combo, Big Band and Vocal Ensemble; the Buchanan High School and Band Folsom High School Big Bands; the Hamilton High School Vocal Ensemble; and the California State University, Long Beach Big Band.
The top three in each category were closely ranked. The Los Angeles based High School for the Arts edged out their rivals by only a few points; the second and third places in the Combo Division were separated by a single point. In the Vocal Division, LASCHA won by a single point as well, showing the strength and quality of the vocal groups that participate in the Festival.
The adjudicators took into account the quality of all aspects of the music and performance, including time, intonation, style and presentation, creativity and solos. For the vocalists, the areas of focus were tone, intonation, diction, artistic interpretation, vocal technique and more.
“Just few points separated these fine ensembles," said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director of the Next Generation Festival. “It just proves the high level of musicianship of the groups that have come here from across the nation. I know that the groups appreciate how hard it is to get here, and they all deserve it."
In the College Big Band Division, California State University Long Beach won the first place award; University of the Pacific of Stockton, California garnered the runner-up position and Azusa Pacific University of Azusa, California took third place. Judging the college bands was difficult; each band had a particular sound, style and timbre that made them equally unique in their overall sound. Again, the points separating the three places were few.
“Everyone in the band came to the competition thinking that the Next Generation Festival would be like other student competitions, in that the vibe would be very severe and ruthless," said Nick DePinna, one of the co-composers and directors for the UCLA Contemporary Jazz Large Ensemble. “But when we got here, the atmosphere was more supportive than competitive. It was really different." DePinna, a former trombonist in the MJF High School All-Star Band (now called the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra), had gone to Japan with that group in 2003.
In addition, outstanding musician awards and educational scholarships were given out to musicians from many schools, based on performance merit. A full list of award winners can be found at www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
The four-day weekend of jazz began on Thursday, March 22 with a special concert at the historic and recently-renovated Golden State Theatre in Downtown Monterey with MJF's 2007 Artist-In-Residence, Terence Blanchard. Terence and his quintet played a mesmerizing two-hour set, and set the tone for the rest of the weekend as students, parents and fans were treated to the new lineup and direction of the group.
The Kick-Off Concert of Friday, March 23 was an all-star parade of ebullient young talent and the immense power of the competition judges in a free concert that packed the house at the Golden State Theatre. The evening kicked off with the “Salute to Jazz Education" with the recognition of the educators, students and supporters of the Festival's year-round Jazz Education Programs. The young musicians of the Monterey County High School All-Star Band, Middle School Honor Band and the Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble performed next, showing the packed house that jazz in Monterey County is a priority, and that residents have much to celebrate--today, and in the future. For a complete list of award winners and recognitions to outstanding educators, please visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
Also unveiled was the newest component of the Monterey Jazz Festival's Education Program, the Digital Music Education Project. Sponsored by AT&T and the Hewlett Foundation, the online program will focus on the peer-to-peer learning experience with online, streaming interviews with prominent jazz musicians. Coordinated by Dr. Rob Klevan and under the direction of Patrick Norager, the program is poised be an important part of the online jazz education community, making a world-wide impact in jazz education.
The Next Generation Festival Judges, including the incredible talents of George Duke (piano); Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Kendrick Scott (drums); Ron Westray (trombone) Dave Carpenter (bass); Bruce Forman guitar); and Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), and the other NGF Judges played the final portion of the concert, which took the form of an old-style jam session and several all-star groups. The soloists were masterly in their musicianship and the various judges groups showed off the bright talent in the hall.
The three-hour free concert was a tremendous success, with the celebratory atmosphere setting a new standard for the Next Generation Festival. With the inclusion of the Golden State Theatre in the Next Generation Festival, the plush concert setting seems like a natural location for Next Generation concerts in years to come.
Saturday's activities started off in the morning, with over sixty back-to-back performances in four locations in Downtown Monterey, including the historic Fisherman's Wharf, the intimate club Monterey Live and the Monterey Conference Center. All the bands played with the professionalism of musicians beyond their years, and the vibe and energy of the crowds at Fisherman's Wharf, a natural and popular gathering place for visitors in Monterey, was impressive to see.
In addition, several clinics were held in the Serra Ballroom of the Monterey Conference Center, with Terence Blanchard packing them in for “Tips with Terence," where he showed the attentive audience some of his performance secrets. Trombone virtuoso Ron Westray also gave a clinic on trombone technique and vocalist Randy Crenshaw gave a workshop that held the young singers rapt with attention.
By the time the final three High School Big Bands were announced early Saturday evening, there was electricity in the air from the NGF attendees in the packed conference room. The crowd of people reacted with a frenzy of excited and exhausted applause as Dr. Rob Klevan announced the winners and scholarship awards. In the end, Los Angeles County had won 2 first place awards, with a potential for a sweep in the Big Band Division--but first they would have to go head-to head with the other finalists: the Buchanan High School from Clovis and the Folsom High School Big Bands, both powerhouses in their originality, energy and unique vision.
The final performances were extraordinary in showcasing the bands strengths and artistic voices. Included was the sight-reading assignment (each band performed a composition they had never seen before) and each band navigated the difficult chart, adding their own signature sound to the tune.
As the final order was announced at 10 PM to the capacity filled room, the participants' energy and nervous excitement exploded when it became known that Los Angeles made the triple sweep. If “American Idol" concentrated featuring instrumental musicians, the Next Generation Festival might be--and is--the place to discover new and deserving talent. The evening lasted late into the evening with student jam sessions, with different players sharing and exchanging information, tips and tunes, and making new friends. After a 13-hour day of nearly non-stop music, some students were still going late into the night.
Sunday's schedule began with the final components of the Next Generation Festival: the Middle School and College Big Band performances. Behind closed doors, but no less important to the Festival, were the live auditions for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, (MJF's National High School All-Star Band, slated to perform at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center and in Paris, France later in July 2007), and the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship, a four-year, full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music named in honor of the MJF's founder.
The middle school students--some barely teenagers--played with a sophistication and clarity rarely seen in young musicians. There is something refreshing about seeing 18 identically-dressed kids on stage, some of whom have never attended a national competition before, their nervous and unsure glances balanced by an emerging command of an instrument that is almost as tall as themselves.
The College Big Bands, some of the most razor-sharp in the nation, showed their command of the form and instrumentation of their highly refined and powerful pieces. Each band had their unique style, from the big, round feel of the University of the Pacific Big Band to the unusual instrumentation and modern and abstract sounding UCLA Contemporary Large Jazz Ensemble. There was a buzz in the crowd after the final band finished, with the consensus that it would be very difficult to score--the bands were so unique.
But in the end Cal State University at Long Beach turned out to be the winner, with their lush sound and rich instrumentation and feel. Each band could feel proud of their achievement at the Next Generation Festival, and the crowds of people in the Steinbeck Forum were an astute and appreciative audience.
After four days and over seventy-five events in 5 locations, the 3rd Annual Next Generation Festival came to a close, with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as the unprecedented triple-winner in the High School Categories, and CSU Long Beach Big Band as the new champions of the Los Angeles basin. But in the end, all the participants who came to Monterey will have memories of 2007 that will last long beyond the awards.
Next Generation Festival sponsors M-Audio and Sibelius offered demonstrations of their innovative, industry-leading products throughout the weekend in the heart of the Conference Center lobby, with M-Audio and Sibelius products enabling student and professional musicians alike the ability to create, record, mix, and publish music.
Borders was also in the Conference Center lobby, the hub of NGF activities, giving away discount coupons to the participants; JazzTimes distributed free copies of their magazine; and J. D'Addario & Company, gave away reeds, strings, and other complimentary products. Longtime MJF partner Yamaha, provided instruments for Next Generation Festival stages.
Support for Next Generation Festival comes from the Community Foundation for Monterey County's Communities Advocating the Arts Fund; from The D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts with support from J. D'Addario & Company, Inc., D'Addario Strings, Evans Drumheads, Planet Waves Accessories, and Rico Reeds; and from contributors Frank & Kathleen Geisler, Rene Mayne and JRB Insurance Services.
The 4th Annual Next Generation Festival is slated for April 4-6, 2008, and will continue to draw the best student bands in the nation. The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to support the NGF and the National High School Jazz Competition, which will enter its 38th year. To all the participants, fans, volunteers, parents, supporters and donors that make this event possible every year, the Monterey Jazz Festival is grateful for your contributions. See you next year in Monterey!
NEXT GENERATION FINAL RANKINGS AND PERFORMANCE DATES AT MJF/50
HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION
1st Place: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Arena Stage, 9/23/2007)
2nd Place: Buchanan High School (Dizzy's Den, 9/23/2007)
3rd Place: Folsom High School (Dizzy's Den, 9/23/2007)
COMBO DIVISION
1st Place: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Combo G (Dizzy's Den, 9/23/2007)
2nd Place: Liverpool High School Jazz Quartet
3rd Place: Buchanan High School Quartet
VOCAL DIVISION
1st Place: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Dizzy's Den, 9/23/2007)
2nd Place: Hamilton High School (Dizzy's Den, 9/23/2007)
3rd Place: Folsom High School Jazz Choir A
COLLEGE BIG BAND DIVISION
1st Place: CSU Long Beach (Nightclub, 9/22/2007)
2nd Place: University of the Pacific
3rd Place: Azusa Pacific University
For more information contact Monterey Jazz Festival.
