The Ballard High School Jazz Band has been selected to participate in the 2014 “Swing Central” Jazz Festival in Savannah, Georgia in March next year. The band has been selected as one of only 12 bands to participate from across the country in a three-day workshop and competition that is part of the annual Savannah Music Festival.
Bands were chosen by a panel of professional jazz musicians based on their recording of an original jazz composition along with a recording of a song of their choice.
Next year’s Savannah Music Festival will be the 25th anniversary season of, according to their website, “presenting a world-class celebration of the musical arts.”
The Swing Central Jazz workshop and competition has a collective approach to big band jazz instruction. The workshop is led by pianist/composer/educator Marcus Roberts, the clinician team includes a wide range of jazz educators such as Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Jim Ketch (Associate Director), Rodney Whitaker and Ron Westray.
The BHS Jazz Band has been chosen amongst bands from various states including California, Colorado, Montana, Tennessee and Florida to name a few.
Congratulations to the BHS Jazz Band and all staff involved. We will update readers with their progress next year!
Photo courtesy of BHS Performing Arts.
