Monterey, Calif., March 17, 2015; Dr. Rob Klevan will be honored by Monterey Jazz Festival at its inaugural Next Generation Jazz Festival Gala prior to the annual Friday Night Concert at the Monterey Conference Center at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27.
The Gala includes a special reception, silent auction, raffle, dinner, and the presentation of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Jazz Champion Award for Klevan’s three-decade long devotion and contribution to the Monterey Bay’s musical landscape.
Tickets for the Next Generation Jazz Festival Gala are $105 with a $95 early bird discount through Thursday, March 19. Gala Tickets also include Gold Circle seating in the front rows for the Friday Night Concert on March 27 at 8 p.m., entitled Remembering Clark Terry: A Swingin’ Celebration, dedicated to the memory of the legendary trumpeter and jazz educator Clark Terry. The concert features performances by the Festival’s team of internationally-renowned artists and competition judges: trumpeter Terell Stafford; saxophonists Mary Fettig, Joel Frahm and Adam Schroeder; trombonist Luis Bonilla; pianists Helen Sung and Reggie Thomas; guitarist Bruce Forman; bassist Ray Drummond; drummer Matt Wilson; and vocalist Mardra Thomas. Opening the concert at 7:30 p.m. is the Marika Galea Quartet from Berklee College of Music.
Gala and Gold Circle Tickets ($50) both include an invitation to the exclusive post-concert “meet and greet” dessert reception with the performers, Monterey Jazz Festival judges, and adjudicators. Tickets are available by calling 831.373.3366 or by emailing [email protected].
“Rob has taught, mentored and inspired countless students, many who are now thriving in music careers and leadership positions in business and civic responsibilities worldwide,” said Paul Contos, Director of Education for Monterey Jazz Festival.
A graduate summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific, Robert B. Klevan pursued his post-graduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago, and at UOP where he received a Masters of Music Degree. In 1993, Dr. Klevan earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas in Austin.
For 27 years, Dr. Klevan served as Music Director and Director of Fine Arts at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, and 16 years as Director of Bands at UC Santa Cruz. Dr. Klevan is the Jazz Education Director Emeritus for the Monterey Jazz Festival and currently serves as Director of the High School Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble for the Monterey Jazz Festival; Jazz Studies Director for the York School; Director of the Pacific Grove Jazz Club Big Band; and Community Relations Specialist for CSU Summer Arts in residence at CSU Monterey Bay.
Dr. Klevan made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the UCSC Wind Ensemble in May, 2001, and returned for an encore performance with the ensemble in February, 2009. He is Past President of the California Orchestra Directors Association; a past member of the Board for the Central Coast Section of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA); Past President for CMEA; and Past Vice-President for the California Alliance for Jazz. He currently serves as a Board member for the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and Ensemble Monterey, and as an Advisory Board member for Jazz Bash Monterey.
In 1992, Dr. Klevan was named CMEA-CCS Educator of the Year, and received the McNeely Award for Excellence in Teaching. Monterey Jazz Festival named Dr. Klevan the Jazz Educator of the Year for 2003-04. CMEA selected Dr. Klevan as the Jazz Educator of the Year for 2006-07. In the spring of 2009, Dr. Klevan received DownBeat Magazine’s Education Achievement Award. Dr. Klevan’s articles on music teaching have been published in JazzEd Magazine, The Jazz Education Journal, The Instrumentalist, CMEA Magazine, The Journal for Texas Music Education Research, Newsletter for the California Association of Independent Schools, the Monterey County Herald, and others.
11th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival March 27-29, includes Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of the 58th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. The event is open to the public, free of charge.
With more than 1200 students participating in the Next Generation Jazz Festival, it is the largest gathering of student musicians Northern California, outside of the Monterey Jazz Festival itself. In 2015, 88 bands from 11 states and British Columbia, Canada will perform at the Next Generation Jazz Festival.
Next Generation Jazz Festival Partners include Alvarez Technology Group, Inc.; Macy’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Scheid Family Wines, Yamaha Drums, and Yamaha Pianos. Supporters include California Jazz Conservatory, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Stevenson School, York School, Remo Drumheads, Gallien-Krueger, and Zildjian Cymbals. Other contributors include ACTION Council of Monterey County, Arts Council for Monterey County, Community Foundation for Monterey County, D’Addario Music Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Sponsorship opportunities, raffle donation instructions, program advertising information, and more details on the 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival can be seen by visiting www.montereyjazzfestival.org/NGJF or by calling 831.373.3366.
About Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in the jazz world since 1958, celebrates the legacy of jazz, expands its boundaries, and provides opportunities to experience jazz through the creative production of performances and educational programs.
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For more information please contact:
Timothy Orr, Marketing Associate
Monterey Jazz Festival
Direct Line: 831.646.8670
Monterey Office: 831.373.3366
[email protected]
www.montereyjazzfestival.org