Poway High Jazz Festival

Attention Jazz lovers -- Poway High School is set to host the First Jazz Festival in over Five Years!  

Nine middle and high school Jazz ensembles from San Diego county will be performing their jazz repertoires, and will be reviewed by three highly regarded figures in jazz education. The festival will be highlighted by an exciting performance by the San Diego State University Jazz Ensemble, winner of the National Collegiate Jazz Competition.

Performances will be held in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, a fantastic venue for musicians and audiences. 

• Bands will receive ratings (Superior, Excellent, Good, etc.) and judges' comments.

• A special guest performance by the San Diego State University Jazz Ensemble will cap off the evening. This will be an exciting performance that the young bands are encouraged to watch, and the public will not want to miss. 

• Quality adjudication from Bill Yeager (SDSU Jazz Studies Professor), Doug Meeuwsen (Jazz Band Director, Mission Viejo High School), and Christopher Hollyday (Jazz Band Director, Valley Center High School).

• 6 Poway Unified District schools will perform.

• Awards for outstanding soloists to wrap up the festival.

Coincidentally, April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and this jazz festival is being coordinated by Poway High School Senior, Justin Yee. Justin is a fourth year member of the PHS Jazz Ensemble, and had played in the Twin Peaks Middle School Jazz Band for two years.  When deciding what to do for his Senior Project, the idea of organizing a jazz festival came naturally. Justin is planning the event with guidance from his mentor, Charlie McGhee, Jazz Band Director from San Elijo Middle School, along with supervision from Mike Cook, Director of Instrumental Music at Poway High School. 

WHEN:  Monday, April 18, 2011

Ticket Price:  Adults (After 5:30 p.m.): $5.00
Daytime is free.  Students & children: Free all day

Schedule

• 1st Ensemble Performance: 3:00pm (every 30 minutes)
• Poway will be performing at 7:30 pm
• SDSU Jazz Ensemble: 8:00pm
• End of Festival: 9:00pm

PARTICIPANTS:

San Elijo Middle School

Meadowbrook Middle School (PUSD)

Mesa Verde Middle School (PUSD)

Westview High School (PUSD)

San Marcos High School  (2 ensembles)

Mt. Carmel High School (PUSD)

Rancho Bernardo High School (PUSD)

Poway High School*  (PUSD)

San Diego State University Jazz Ensemble**