Young LA musicians dominate the Next Generation Jazz Festival
This post has been corrected. Please see note at bottom for details.
Retaining a strong foothold in the annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, Los Angeles County high schools and universities nabbed top honors in five out of the eight major competition categories staged at the prestigious event, held last weekend, April 1-3 at the Monterey Conference Center and various locations in downtown Monterey. Presented by the nonprofit Monterey Jazz Festival, Next Generation encompassed almost 120 music events performed by more than 65 jazz groups from 10 states.
On Wednesday, the results of the festival’s 40th annual National High School Jazz Competition were announced. The top groups will appear at the 54th Monterey Jazz Festival, hosted at Monterey Fairgrounds, Sept. 16-18.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts snagged first-place titles in the high school categories for big band and vocal ensemble. Hamilton Academy of Music won the top High School Combo Award. The groups were directed by Jason Goldman, Pat Bass and Jim Foschia, respectively.
In the College Big Band Division, top honors went to University of Southern California Thornton School of Music Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bob Mintzer. The College Vocal Jazz Ensemble Award went to Cal State Long Beach group “Pacific Standard Time,” directed by Christine Guter.
In addition, several LA musicians were honored individually.
The Monterey Jazz Festival also announced the winner of the Next Generation Jazz Festival’s Composition Competition, won by Chase Morrin of Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego for his composition “Mumphis,” which will be performed by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra on the Jimmy Lyons Arena Stage on Sept. 18.
Morrin will also receive the fourth annual Gerald Wilson Award and a cash prize. Major funding for the Next Generation Jazz Festival was provided by the Hearst Foundation and AT&T Foundation. The program was also supported by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
For the record, 10:12 a.m.: This post has been corrected to clarify the awards for Hamilton Academy of Music, Tim McKay and Jacob Mann.
-- Nate Jackson
Photo: Next Generation Jazz Festival Credit: Monterey Jazz Festival
LACHSA did indeed win the top High School Big Band and Vocal Ensemble Divisions but the top High School Combo was from the Hamilton Academy of Music, also from Los Angeles. Jim Foschia is correctly cited as the director.
Posted by: Timothy Orr | April 08, 2011 at 08:34 PM