The Wednesday, June 27 concert will feature outstanding youth musicians who participate in the Monterey Jazz Festival's annual two- week Summer Jazz Camp at Monterey Peninsula College, which takes place from June 18 to 29. The ensembles will feature outstanding students, hand-picked from the 180-plus musicians who attend the camp. The concert begins at 7 PM and is open to the public, free of charge.
On Sunday, July 22, the MJF's Monterey County High School All-Star Band will perform at the National Steinbeck Center in a special concert before leaving on their annual tour of Japan. The concert begins at 7 pm at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Tickets are $10, and advance purchase is recommended. Patrons are advised to call (831) 775-4721 for more information or visit www.steinbeck.org.
“The Summer Jazz Camp Vocal Solo and Combo concert at the Steinbeck Center on June 27 is a wonderful opportunity for select students to perform in a public venue where they can display their talents individually or in a small group setting," Said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival. “It's a fun evening, and one of my favorite summertime events."
The Vocal Soloists and Combos on the June 27 concert are selected by the instructors and clinicians at the MJF Summer Camp. Madeline Eastman, the renowned and sophisticated San Francisco vocalist evaluates the students at the camp and will choose six to eight outstanding soloists, who will be backed up by various combinations of instrumentalists in the Combos. The instrumentalists, comprising up to twelve different Combos, will be chosen by noted New York saxophonist Virginia Mayhew, who is also teaching at the Jazz Camp. Both Eastman and Mayhew have been longtime supporters and clinicians with Monterey's innovative educational programs.
The MJF County High School All-Star Band includes the best and brightest student musicians from the Festival's home county, is directed by renowned saxophonist and flautist Mr. Paul Contos. The 21- member band features the finest young jazz musicians throughout Monterey County, including students from the Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Palma, Stevenson and York High Schools. Members of the All-Star Band are selected by the Festival's “Traveling Clinicians" who visit Monterey schools once a month during the school year for one-on-one instruction. The July 22 National Steinbeck Center performance marks the start of the MJF County High School All-Star Band's tour of Japan, which will take place from July 24 - August 6, 2007.
The Monterey Jazz Festival and the National Steinbeck Center have become formidable presenting partners in the Monterey Bay Area. The two organizations have joined forces in recent years to produce concerts in the summer and fall seasons, including the Summer Jazz Series and the “Jazz with Steinbeck" concert prior to the Monterey Jazz Festival each year. This year, the “Jazz with Steinbeck" concert will take place on September 19, 2007 and features the vocal talents of Kim Nalley, Ed Reed and the Jazz Birds.
About the Steinbeck Center
The National Steinbeck Center museum in Salinas, California offers three distinct visitor experiences exploring literature and history, agriculture and art. In the John Steinbeck Exhibition Hall, explore the life of John Steinbeck, his writings and characters through engaging exhibits, one of a kind artifacts, and films. The Rabobank Agriculture Museum shares the stories of the Salinas Valley “from field to fork." The Gabilan and Pearl Galleries offer changing art and cultural exhibits.
About the Monterey Jazz Festival
Starting with a modest $35,000 scholarship fund in 1970, the Monterey Jazz Festival now invests over $700,000 annually in jazz education through a variety of different programs which are a model of arts education for the entire nation. These hands-on, cutting-edge educational components include the Traveling Clinician and Latin Jazz Programs, with professional musicians visiting Monterey County schools to teach students how to play and improvise in jazz and Latin styles; the Artist-In-Residence Program, which brings a leading jazz performer to work with students throughout the year; the MJF Summer Jazz Camp, the MJF Instrument and Sheet Music Library, the MJF Digital Music Education Project, the Next Generation Festival, the Monterey County High School All-Star-Band, the MJF Middle School Honor Band and MJF Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.
2007 Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey County High School All-Star Band
Director - Mr. Paul Contos
Saxophones
Corey Watkins - alto, Monterey High School
Nathan Tucker - alto, York School
Kevin Call - tenor, Carmel High School
Taylor Herhusky - tenor, Stevenson School
John Neff - baritone, Palma High School
Trombones
Steve Flournoy, Seaside High School
Davis Giedt, York School
Zachary McDaniel, Salinas High School
James Olwell, Palma High School
Justin Widmar (bass), Carmel High School
Trumpets
Daniel Bean, York School
Lia Donovan, Monterey High School
Conor Jones, Carmel High School
Drew Kowalski, Palma High School
Andrew Shepherd, Salinas High School
Rhythm
Andre Cardoso - piano, Pacific Grove High School
Ryan Grech - bass, Monterey High School
Alex Govan - guitar, Carmel High School
Dylan Aiello - drums, Carmel High School
Tyler Tolles - drums, Monterey High School
Simone van Seenus - vocalist, Carmel High School
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For more information contact Monterey Jazz Festival.
