Poway High School Jazz Festival Returns Friday

The second year of the will be in full swing from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at the .

The event, which occurs during Jazz Appreciation Month, includes 12 local middle school and high school jazz ensembles competing with three to four songs each.

There will also be two guest bands that will perform before the awards ceremony: Local jazz band Danny Green Trio will play during a dinner break and the Palomar Jazz Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m.

The festival, in its second year after a five-year break, was revived by PHS alumnus Justin Yee, who organized the event for a senior project. Last year, the event featured nine competitors. 

There are three divisions—middle school, intermediate high school and advanced high school—because most high schools have both intermediate and advanced bands. But PHS is an exception, as it only has one type of high school band that will compete in the advanced category. 

These are the schools that will be competing:

Middle school division:

• Twin Peaks Middle School
• Black Mountain Middle School
• Meadowbrook Middle School 

Intermediate high school division: 

• San Marcos High School
• Mt. Carmel High School 
• Westview High School

Advanced high school division:

• Mt. Carmel High School
• Westview High School
• Rancho Bernardo High School
• San Marcos High School
• Poway High School
• San Diego Youth Symphony Jazz Band

There are three judges for the competition: Former PHS Music Instructor Christopher Hollyday, SDSU Jazz Studies Director Bill Yeager and Mission Viejo High School Music Instructor Doug Meeuwsen.

Judges will provide ratings and comments to determine winners for the divisional first, second and third place trophies, as well as outstanding soloist award certificates. 

The PHS Jazz Band will perform four songs, which include a Latin song called “Saint Thomas,” the old swing tune “Groove Merchant,” the ballad “Lover Man” and the funky “Rippin’ and Runnin’” by Gordon Goodwin.

Poway High School senior and event organizer Chase Pado will also compete with the PHS Jazz Band as a pianist. He continued Yee’s event this year, but made some adjustments.

“The biggest difference for me is to make more money because, as most people know, the arts and music at high schools and public schools aren’t doing too well.” Pado said. 

He plans to make profit for the event, which broke even last year. Pado created a 12-page professional program this year filled with advertisers and sponsors. Last year, it was a two-page booklet.

Pado will be attending UC San Diego in the fall to study jazz piano. 

Tickets, which are $10 for adults and $5 for students, will be sold at the door. For more information, contact Chase Pado at ChasePado@cox.net.

• To celebrate the history of trains and songs, the 14th annual  will take place from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at .

The free family event, sponsored by the city of Poway and San Diego Folk Heritage, includes a tour of the Poway-Midland Railroad’s train yard and display of a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive. In addition, there will be a musician’s camp, miniature trains and characters from the Victorian era. Food and other items will be available for a small fee. For more information, call (858) 668-4576 or visit the event’s website.

• On Sunday there will be a  session from 1 to 4 p.m. at . The free, weekly event features acoustic music playing in a group setting. For more information, visit Poway Folk Circle’s website.