Poway High Senior Coordinates Jazz Festival

Because of senior Justin Yee, local schools will perform in a jazz festival at the next Monday. decided to coordinate a jazz festival for his senior project, which coincides with Jazz Appreciation Month.

“I chose this because I’ve been a part of jazz band throughout middle school and high school,” he said. “I love playing jazz, and it has become a passion of mine. That’s why I wanted to share that with the school and the community and give back to the music program.”

Jazz ensembles from San Elijo Middle School, , Mesa Verde Middle School, Westview High School, San Marcos High School, Mt. Carmel High School, Rancho Bernardo High School, Poway High School and San Diego State University will perform. Poway High School’s jazz ensemble will take the stage around 7:30 p.m., before SDSU’s ensemble closes the concert.

“The main purpose of the festival is to get the bands to perform, but also to let them watch a world-class jazz band,” said Yee, who has been planning the festival since the fall. “They’re award-winning. They’re one of the best collegiate bands probably in the nation.”

Yee has planned the event with guidance from his mentor, Charlie McGhee, the jazz band director from San Elijo Middle School, along with supervision from Mike Cook, the director of instrumental music at Poway High School. 

“Usually this type of planning would be split up among multiple people, but a lot of it I’ve had to do,” Yee said. “I’ve had help with each area, but I’ve had to do a lot of coordination myself.”

Although coordinating his senior project has been challenging, Yee said the experience has also been rewarding.

“I encourage anyone in the community to come out and watch the bands,” he said. “I encourage anyone who wants to support music programs to attend.”

The first ensemble will perform at 2:30 p.m. 

Tickets cost $5 for the evening portion, beginning at 5 p.m.  Youth 18 and younger are free. 

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15498 Espola Road.

On Sunday, the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, or "POW! Foundation," will close its 2011-12 professional performance season with The 39 Steps.

The play, which is based on the 1935 classic film by Alfred Hitchcock, will showcase four actors playing more than 150 roles.

At the show, the POW! Foundation will draw the winning ticket of its raffle. The foundation, which is responsible for booking professional artists into the city-owned center, has been selling raffle tickets for a Mercedes-Benz C Class Sedan. Raffle tickets are still available for $100 each.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $55 for adults, $47 for seniors and $5  for youth 18 and younger with purchase of an adult ticket.

On Sunday, the CantAmore Chorus will present its Spring Music Festival at the center. The concert, which begins at 6:30 p.m., costs $15 per person.

In other news, the will offer a silk painting class today from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

For more information, call Bonnie Stromer, the center’s founder and director, at 858-679-2787.

Xpressive Arts Center is located at 12257-B Old Pomerado Road.