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HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS STARS OF NEW JAZZ SHOWCASE AT STEELSTACKS

DATE: Jan 24, 2012
CONTACT: Mark Demko, ArtsQuest, 610-332-1300, ext. 342, or mdemko@artsquest.org

Competition's Winner to Open for Preservation Hall Jazz Band May 12 during RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller

BETHLEHEM, PA--High school jazz groups from New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania will square off this winter at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem during the first-ever SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase, with the winner of the competition earning the opportunity to open for Preservation Hall Jazz Band May 12 during the RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller jazz series.

The SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase, which is presented by ArtsQuest and the Moravian College Music Department, will feature 10 area high school jazz bands competing in two preliminary rounds at the ArtsQuest Center's Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling. Each group will perform a 20-minute set during one of the preliminaries, with the top overall groups, as determined by a judging panel comprised of area music educators, advancing to the competition's finals at the Musikfest Café March 11 at 4 p.m. Preliminaries will take place Feb. 12 and 26 at 4 p.m.; judges for the competition are head judge Dr. Neil Wetzel, Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Moravian College; Pat Dorian, Professor of Music at East Stroudsburg University; retired music educators Chuck Dressler and Dave Kenney; and Dr. Eddie Severn, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Lock Haven University.

"There is nothing like this jazz festival happening in the Lehigh Valley on this scale," says Wetzel. "This is a great opportunity for local jazz students to hear other bands and to be showcased in this manner. The judges are top-notch. Collectively they bring more than 100 years of jazz education experience to the festival. They have been selected for their skill and knowledge of directing jazz groups in high schools, colleges and universities."

The SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase will also honor several individual performers during the competition by presenting solo awards for the Best Saxophone/Woodwind Soloist, Best Brass Soloist, Best Rhythm Soloist and Best Overall Vocalist. Individual awards will be presented during each preliminary round, with the best overall soloists announced at the finals. All four best overall soloist award winners will receive a free scholarship to Moravian College's 2012 Summer Jazz Camp, set for July 9-13 at the college. In addition, section awards will be presented during the preliminaries and finals for the Best Reed Section, Best Trumpet Section, Best Trombone Section and Best Rhythm Section.

"The SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase will feature some very talented high school jazz musicians, while at the same time giving them an opportunity to perform in a professional music venue," says ArtsQuest Vice President of Performing Arts Patrick Brogan. "Presenting educational programs and performance opportunities for area young people has long been a part of ArtsQuest's mission, so we are proud to partner with Moravian College's Department of Music to present this unique event designed to support the musical and academic growth and development of jazz students in our region."

At the finals of the jazz band showcase, each finalist will perform a 20-minute set. During the event, the audience will also enjoy a special performance by the Moravian College Jazz Faculty Band, as well as set by the SteelStacks Jazz All-Star Big Band. The all-star band, which will be directed by Wetzel, will feature at least one member from each of the high school bands in the competition.

"One of the most unique and memorable parts of this experience may turn out to be the all-star band," says Wetzel. "Music education, and especially jazz education, is an important facet of school educational programs. Learning jazz fosters creativity and develops problem-solving skills, both of which are imperative to the success of our future leaders. ArtsQuest should be applauded for showcasing the important work of these students and educators."

Tickets for the SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase preliminary rounds and finals are $5. They will go on sale Jan. 27, 10 a.m., and be available at www.artsquest.org and 610-332-3378. The schedule for the competition is as follows:

Feb. 12, 4 p.m.

• Easton Area High School
• Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts
• Saucon Valley High School
• Kutztown Area High School

Feb. 26

• Boyertown Area Senior High School
• Emmaus High School
• Freedom High School
• Phillipsburg High School
• Pocono Mountain East High School
• Warren Hills Regional High School

ABOUT ARTSQUEST

ArtsQuest™ is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest®; the Banana Factory® cultural arts and education center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks™ arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest's programming reaches more than 1.5 million people annually.

For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org or call 610-332-1300.