Top High School Big Band
Northgate High School
(Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Top High School Combo
Folsom High School
(Folsom, Calif.)
Top High School Vocal Ensemble
Folsom High School Jazz Choir I
(Folsom, Calif.)
Top High School Open Combo
Tucson Jazz Institute “Concord” Combo
(Tucson, Ariz.)
Top College Big Band
University of Miami Frost School of Music Concert Jazz Band
(Miami, Fla.)
Top College Vocal Ensemble
California State University Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time”
(Long Beach, Calif.)
Top Conglomerate Big Band
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra
(San Francisco, Calif.)
Top College Open Combo
USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo
(Los Angeles, Calif.)
80 Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and Special Guests from 12 States Performed Throughout Weekend of March 28-30
Top Groups to Appear at 57th Monterey Jazz Festival
September 19-21, 2014
Monterey, CA; April 9, 2014; Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce the results of the annual Next Generation Jazz Festival. A full list of top groups, scholarship and award winners can be found on the Festival’s Web site at montereyjazzfestival.org.
Results by Category
In the High School Big Band Division, top honors went to Northgate High School (Walnut Creek, Calif.), Greg Brown, director, winning for the first time in their history in the division. The runner-up was Buchanan High School (Clovis, Calif.), Paul Lucckesi, director. Third place went to Westlake High School Jazz Ensemble I (Westlake Village, Calif.), Brian Peter, director. All three bands will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the High School Combo Division, top honors went to Folsom High School (Folsom, Calif.), Curtis Gaesser, director, winning for the first time in their history in the combo division. The runner-up was Esperanza High School Combo A (Anaheim, Calif.), Brad Davis, Director. Third place went to Lexington High School (Lexington, Mass.), Andrew Held, director. The Folsom High School Combo will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the High School Open Combo Division, top honors went to the Tucson Jazz Institute “Concord” Combo (Tucson, Ariz.), Brice Winston, director, winning for the first time in the division. The runner-up were the Jazz House Messengers (West Orange, N.J.), Oscar Perez, director. Third place went to the New Jazz Messengers (White Plains, N.Y.), Julius Rodriguez, director. The Tucson Jazz Institute “Concord” Combo will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the High School Vocal Ensemble Division, top honors went to Folsom High School Jazz Choir I, (Folsom, Calif.), Curtis Gaesser, director, winning for the first time since 2012 and their 11th win since 1991. The runner-up was Valencia High School “Two N’ Four” (Valencia, Calif.), Christine Tavares-Mocha, director. Third place went to Valencia High School “Soundwaves” (Valencia, Calif.), Christine Tavares-Mocha, director. Folsom High School Jazz Choir I and Valencia High School “Two N’ Four” will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the College Big Band Division, top honors went to University of Miami Frost School of Music Concert Jazz Band (Miami, Fla.), John Daversa, director, winning on their debut performance. The runner-up was California State University Long Beach Concert Orchestra, Jeff Jarvis, director. Third place went to University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble I, (Las Vegas, Nev.), Dave Loeb, director. University of Miami Frost Concert Jazz Band will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the College Vocal Ensemble Division, top honors went to California State University Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time” (Long Beach, Calif.), Christine Guter, director. The runner-up was Elmhurst College “Late Night Blues” (Elmhurst, Ill), Susan Moninger, director. Third place went to American River College (Sacramento, Calif.), Dr. Arthur Lapierre, director. CSU Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time” will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the Conglomerate Big Band Division, top honors went to the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra (San Francisco, Calif.), Paul Contos, director. The runner-up was the Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band (Berkeley, Calif.), Dave Eshelman, director. Third place went to the Tucson Jazz Institute “Ellington” Band (Tucson, Ariz.), Doug Tidaback, director. SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
In the College Open Combo Division, top honors went to USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo (Los Angeles, Calif.), Jason Goldman, director. The runner-up was University of Nevada, Las Vegas Latin Jazz Ensemble (Las Vegas, Nev.), Uli Geissendoerfer, director. Third place went to the Brendan Polk Trio from Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.), Robin Sherman, director. USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo will perform at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
For a complete list of top ensembles, outstanding soloists and scholarship recipients, please see the bottom of this press release or visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org/NGJF/2014-next-generation-jazz-festival-results.
Day by Day Review
The Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival got off to a spectacular start on Friday, March 28 with a standing room-only crowd of 1700 jazz fans for the highly-anticipated Kick-Off Concert, which included performances from Berklee College of Music’s Latimbop and the Next Generation Jazz Festival judges, including pianist Shelly Berg; saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Gary Smulyan, drummer Matt Wilson and Eric Harland; trombonist Luis Bonilla; trumpeter Erik Jekabson; bassist Ray Drummond; guitarist Russell Malone; and vocalists Madeline Eastman and Nadia Washington. After the conclusion of the Kick-Off Concert, a large number of students remained to participate in the traditional Student Jam Session, hosted by the Marin School of the Arts.
Saturday’s activities included more than 80 back-to-back performances on five stages in downtown Monterey. In addition, clinics were held by Esther Rojas and Latimbop from Berklee College of Music, and Artist-In-Residence Eric Harland.
After nine hours of performances, students packed the Serra Ballroom to hear the announcement of the top High School Big Bands, Vocal Ensembles and Combos, and soloist and scholarship award winners.
The Showcase Concert later that evening was a preview of the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival, which included the big bands from Folsom High School Combo and Jazz Choir I, and the Northgate High School Big Band, with special guest performances from the UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumni “Super Band.”
On Sunday morning, the final divisions of the Next Generation Jazz Festival took place, including the Middle School, Conglomerate, College Big Band, High School Open Combo, and College Vocal Ensemble performances, with a special clinic from Next Generation Jazz Orchestra alumnus, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown. Eckstein Middle School from Seattle proved to be dominant in the Middle School Division, winning three of four section awards, and two of four soloist awards.
Downstairs in the Serra Ballroom, the Conglomerate Big Band Division was also underway. Representing the best-of-the-best high school musicians, each band was an all-star congregation of high school players. Winning the top award for the second year in a row was the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra.
The College Big Band Division featured some of the most advanced groups in the nation. Each group showcased their bold interpretations of big band literature; with the University of Miami Frost School of Music Concert Band taking top honors on their debut appearance at the Next Generation Jazz Festival.
The High School Open Combo division was won by the Tucson Jazz Institute “Concord” Combo. It was their first win in the division.
Sunday afternoon featured College Vocal Ensembles in the Steinbeck Forum, with each of the six top schools showing their sophisticated and daring harmonic sounds. California State University, Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time” took top honors for the first time since 2011, their third first place in five years.
Also on Sunday, behind closed doors, live auditions for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra were taking place. The Orchestra, one of the premier high school big bands in the United States, is Monterey Jazz Festival’s national high school showcase band, filled with all-star musicians from around the country. The prestigious orchestra will embark on a tour of Japan in 2014.
Technology and Jazz Education
The Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival provided free Web casts from the Serra Ballroom Stage and Steinbeck Forum on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with more than 2100 fans from 93 countries tuning in to see their favorite bands perform in nearly 9500 live streams. Performances from both locations were available on local TV and online, supported by Access Monterey Peninsula and KUSP.org. Monterey Jazz Festival also updated its mobile phone app for the Next Generation Jazz Festival for both iPhone and Android, which was downloaded by over 350 users for nearly 2000 sessions.
Partners in Jazz
The Next Generation Jazz Festival Jazz Expo hosted some of the top schools and jazz programs in the country, including the California Jazz Conservatory, Stanford Jazz Workshop, University of Miami Frost School of Music, University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, and Brian Switzer.
In addition, longtime Monterey Jazz Festival partner Yamaha provided instruments for Next Generation Jazz Festival stages.
The 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival is slated for March 27-29, 2015 and will continue to draw the country’s superior level student bands, vocalists, and individual musicians. Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to support the Next Generation Jazz Festival and congratulates all the participants, fans, volunteers, parents, supporters, and donors who have helped make this special event possible every year.
Supporters Help Fund Next Generation Jazz Festival
Next Generation Jazz Festival partners and supporters include longtime Monterey Jazz Festival partner Yamaha Drums and Yamaha Pianos, providing instruments for Next Generation Jazz Festival stages. Additional support is provided by generous individuals and organizations such as the Surdna Foundation, Clint Eastwood, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Quest Foundation, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Community Foundation for Monterey County, AT&T Foundation, and the Harden Foundation.
About Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates the legacy of jazz and expands the boundaries of and opportunities to experience jazz through the creative production of performances and educational programs.
2014 Next Generation
Jazz Festival Results
High School Big Band Division
First Place:
Northgate High School*
Walnut Creek, Calif.
Greg Brown, director
Second Place:
Buchanan High School*
Clovis, Calif.
Paul Lucckesi, director
Third Place:
Westlake High School Jazz Ensemble I*
Westlake Village, Calif.
Brian Peter, director
High School Combo Division
First Place:
Folsom High School*
Folsom, Calif.
Curtis Gaesser, director
Second Place
Esperanza High School Combo A
Anaheim, Calif.
Brad Davis, Director
Third Place:
Lexington High School
Lexington, Mass.
Andrew Held, director
High School Vocal Division
First Place:
Folsom High School Jazz Choir I*
Folsom, Calif.
Curtis Gaesser, director
Second Place:
Valencia High School “Two N’ Four”*
Valencia, Calif.
Christine Tavares-Mocha, director
Third Place:
Valencia High School “Soundwaves”
Valencia, Calif.
Christine Tavares-Mocha, director
High School Open Combo Division
First Place
Tucson Jazz Institute “Concord” Combo*
Tucson, Ariz.
Brice Winston, director
Second Place
Jazz House Messengers
West Orange, N.J.
Oscar Perez, director
Third Place
New Jazz Messengers
White Plains, N.Y.
Julius Rodriguez, director
College Big Band Division
First Place
University of Miami Frost Concert Jazz Band*
Miami, Fla.
John Daversa, director
Second Place
CSU Long Beach Concert Band
Long Beach, Calif.
Jeff Jarvis, director
Third Place
UNLV Jazz Ensemble l
Las Veagas, Nev.
Dave Loeb, director
College Vocal Ensemble Division
First Place
CSU Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time”*
Long Beach, Calif.
Christine Guter, director
Second Place
Elmhurst College “Late Night Blues”
Elmhurst, Ill.
Susan Moniger, director
Third Place
American River College
Sacramento, Calif.
Dr. Arthur Lapierre
College Open Combo Division
First Place
USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo*
Los Angeles, Calif.
Jason Goldman, director
Second Place
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Latin Jazz Ensemble
Las Vegas, Nev.
Uli Geissendoerfer, director
Third Place
Brendan Polk Trio (Florida State University)
Tallahassee, Fla.
Robin Sherman, director
Conglomerate Big Band Division
First Place:
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra*
San Francisco, Calif.
Paul Contos, director
Second Place:
Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band
Berkeley, Calif.
Dave Eshelman, director
Third Place:
Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band
Tucson, Ariz.
Doug Tidaback, director
* Performing at the 57th Monterey Jazz Festival
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:
High School Big Band Division
Scholarships
50% of Tuition: Berklee College of Music Five-Week Summer Program:
Andrew Stephens, trumpet / Rio Americano High School
$300 – 2014 Brubeck Institute Jazz Camp Summer Camp:
Alex Smith, drums / Westlake High School
Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop (Awarded to a bassist):
Kanoa Mendenhall, bass / Marin High School of the Arts
Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop (Awarded to a pianist):
Joey Cozza, piano / Folsom High School
Stanford Jazz Workshop:
Steven Robinson, trombone / Westlake High School
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Kanoa Mendenhall, bass / Marin High School of the Arts
2. Emery Mesich, alto sax / Folsom High School
3. Aaron Shaw, tenor sax / LA County High School for the Arts
4. Andrew Stephens, trumpet / Rio Americano High School
5. Michael Gutierrez, trumpet / Buchanan High School
High School Combo Division
Scholarships
35% of Tuition: Berklee College of Music Five Week Summer Program:
Brian Nam, drums / Lexington High School
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Emery Mesich, alto sax / Folsom High School
2. Arabelle Schoenberg, piano / Berkeley High School
3. Joel Wenhardt, organ / Esperanza High School
4. Evan Abounassar, trumpet / Esperanza High School
High School Vocal Ensemble Division
Scholarships
50% of Tuition: Berklee College of Music Five-Week Summer Program:
Devin Daniels, vocals / Hamilton High School
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Sam Fulkerson, vocals / Folsom High School
2. Paulaine Sano, vocals / Valencia High School
3. Mathew Bermudez, vocals / Valencia High School
High School Open Combo Division
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Logan Kane, bass / SFJAZZ High School All Stars Orchestra
2. Sam Chess, trombone / Tucson Jazz Institute
3. Coleman Hughes, trombone / Jazz House Messengers
4. Wallace Roney, trumpet / Jazz House Messengers
College Big Band Division
1. Joel Ross, vibes / University of the Pacific
2. Ramsey Castaneda, tenor sax / CSU Long Beach
3. Christopher Palowitch, bass trombone / University of Miami Frost School of Music
4. Ryan Chapman, trumpet / University of Miami Frost School of Music
College Vocal Jazz Ensemble Division
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Maria Schafer, voice / CSU Long Beach
2. Jenny Swoish, voice / CSU Long Beach
3. Alysha McElroy-Hodges, voice / Elmhurst College
College Open Combo Division
Scholarships
Stanford Jazz Workshop:
Ana Bairrero, drums / USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Brendan Polk, piano / Florida State University, Brendan Polk Trio
2. Daniel Alameda, vibraphone / UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble
3. Adam Schlozman, guitar / University of Missouri, Kansas City
4. Ana Bairrero, drums / USC Thornton School of Music Honors Combo
Conglomerate Big Band Division
Scholarships
35% of Tuition: Berklee College of Music Five Week Summer Program:
Ben Ring, drums / SFJAZZ High School All Stars
Full Tuition Lafayette Summer Jazz Workshop
Nathan Hocker, drums / American Music Program
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Ben Ring, drums / SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra
2. Matt Wong, piano / Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band
3. Sam Chess, trombone / Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band
4. Robbie Lee, piano / Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band
5. Steve Motecucco, trumpet / American Music Program
6. Tyler Bauer, tenor sax / Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band
Middle School Big Band Division
Scholarships
$300 – 2014 Brubeck Institute Jazz Camp Summer Camp
Sophie Pecher, trombone / Stanley Middle School
Outstanding Soloist Awards
1. Elliot Halpern, tenor sax / Eckstein Middle School
2. Anders Swanson, drums / Folsom Middle School
3. Katie Eichlin, trumpet / Sutter Middle School
4. Sean Bowman, clarinet / Eckstein Middle School
Outstanding Section Awards
Saxophone: Eckstein Middle School / Moc Escobedo, director
Trombone: Eckstein Middle School / Moc Escobedo, director
Trumpet: Stanley Middle School / Bob Athayde, director
Rhythm Section: Eckstein Middle School / Moc Escobedo, director
*will perform at the 57th Monterey Jazz Festival
###
For more information please contact:
Timothy Orr, Marketing Associate
Monterey Jazz Festival
Direct Line: 510.652.1122
Monterey Office: 831.373.3366
timorr@montereyjazzfestival.org
www.montereyjazzfestival.org