Pacific's Jazz Ensemble Selected to Compete in Next Generation Festival

Stockton, CA Pacific's Jazz Ensemble, a group composed of Conservatory of Music students studying jazz, was selected to participate in this year's “Next Generation Festival." The “Next Generation Festival" is put on by the Monterey Jazz Festival to showcase the best emerging talent in the world of jazz. Only six university groups are selected each year to compete.

“I'm thrilled to share news that the Pacific Jazz Ensemble has again been selected as a finalist," said Patrick Langham, director of Jazz Studies at Pacific. “This is an extreme honor and outstanding recognition for the institution and our Jazz Studies program."

Pacific participated in the festival in 2007 and took second place. This year, Pacific was selected from among hundreds of applicants from across the country. Besides Pacific, other colleges and universities that are sending ensemble bands are Azusa Pacific, California State University Long Beach, California State University Sacramento, The USC Thornton School of Music, and The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Other musical categories will feature students from Japan, the United Kingdom and Texas.

This year, the artist-in-residence for the Next Generation Festival will be Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Featured during the Next Generation Festival in April will be renowned LCJO musicians alto saxophonist Sherman Irby, trumpeter Sean Jones and saxophonist Joe Temperley.

The Next Generation Festival will be held April 3 April 5 at the Monterey Conference Center. It is free and open to the public.