Jazz News: Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band

Jazz News: Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band: "Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band
Posted: 2006-07-20


MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2006 MJF COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BAND
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHT TWO-WEEK TOUR OF JAPAN, JULY 25 - AUGUST 7

TOUR STARTS WITH PERFORMANCE AT THE NATIONAL STEINBECK CENTER IN SALINAS, JULY 24


Monterey, California; Since its inception in 1958, the Monterey Jazz Festival has invested its proceeds in education, providing a series of innovative music programs for young people. Over $500,000 is invested annually in the MJF's year-round jazz education programs, funded through a combination of Festival ticket revenue, grants, corporate sponsorship and individual contributions. The MJF investment in jazz education has paid off handsomely--recognizing, rewarding and nurturing the best and brightest young jazz musicians in the country.


In addition to the Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (which performed at the Jazz Standard in New York City, the International Music Festival in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy from July 9-16, and will appear at the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival) the Monterey Jazz Festival has announced the members of the 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band, the best and brightest student musicians from the Festival's home county.


Directed by renowned saxophonist and flautist Mr. Paul Contos, the 21-member MJF County High School All-Star Band features the finest young jazz musicians from high schools throughout Monterey County. Participants in the 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band hail from the Monterey, Gonzales, Carmel, Everett Alvarez, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Palma/Notre Dame, Santa Catalina, and York High Schools, representing the cities of Monterey, Carmel, Salinas, Pacific Grove and Gonzalez. The students provide a glimpse into the future of jazz, and will partake in the festival's unique and exciting educational programs.


Since its creation, the MJF County High School All-Star Band has participated in a series of international concerts and cultural exchange programs, and will return to Monterey's sister city of Nanao, Japan from July 25 to August 7, 2006. Seven public concerts and workshops with Japanese high school students are scheduled at schools in Nanao, Senzoku University in Yokohama, the Tomisato Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto.

“This tour is an amazing experience for the students of Monterey County to participate in a unique cross-cultural program,” said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival. “The exchange of knowledge and the experience of the tour will have a life- long impact on the students, not only broadening their musical horizons, but also expanding their knowledge and understanding of different cultures. Music is a universal language, and the tour will stay with the kids forever.”


Prior to their departure on the tour of Japan, the MJF County High School All Stars will perform on Sunday, July 23 at 7 PM at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Tickets are $10, and advance purchase is recommended. Please call (831) 775-4721 for more information.


With educational programs such as the MJF County High School Honor Band, the MJF County Middle School Honor Band, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Monterey Jazz Festival continues to change lives through jazz education and spread America's original art-form, jazz, from Monterey to the world.


The Monterey Jazz Festival's Jazz Education Programs are made possible in part through the generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Monterey Jazz Festival Commissioned Artist Program, the Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence Program, the NEA/Jazz Masters on Tour Program, Verizon in partnership with Arts Midwest, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through a grant to Chamber Music America. The Monterey Jazz Festival is also proud to thank the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and many other generous grantors and individuals who support MJF's year-round youth jazz education programs.


The 2006 MJF County High School All-Star Band


Director
Mr. Paul Contos

Saxophones
Corey Watkins - alto, Monterey High School
Chris Lopez - alto, Gonzales High School
Emily Neff - tenor, Monterey High School
Kevin Call - tenor, Carmel High School
Kyle Murchison - baritone, Carmel High School

Trombones
Dakota Bell, Monterey High School
Davis Giedt, York School
Zachary McDaniel, Salinas High School
Kristen Rosa, Everett Alvarez High School
Justin Widmar (bass), Carmel High School

Trumpets
Daniel Bean, York School
Karl Gramespacher, Monterey High School
Conor Jones, Carmel High School
Kari McLaughlin, Palma/Notre Dame High School
Andrew Shepherd, Salinas High School

Rhythm
Emily Intersimone - piano, Santa Catalina School
Zach Parkes - bass, Carmel High School
Brice Albert - guitar, Monterey High School
Patrick Daniel - drums, Pacific Grove High School
Ross McCafferty - drums, Carmel High School
Sam Skemp - vocals, Monterey High School