Jazz Band Advances to Competition's Finals Round

The Saucon Valley High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Kevin O'Connell has advanced to the finals round of a prestigious high school jazz band competition sponsored by Bethlehem's ArtsQuest organization.

O'Connell announced in an email last month that "the Jazz Ensemble received one of the top ratings of the audition on Feb. 26."

In a Feb. 27 press release, ArtsQuest said the Saucon Valley High School Jazz Ensemble was one of six Pennsylvania and New Jersey high school jazz bands that survived "two rounds of intense competition" and the scrutiny of a five-member judging panel to win a slot in the finals round of the SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase presented by King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC.

"The judges were very impressed with the level of musicianship and artistry of these groups," said Moravian College professor of music and director of jazz studies Dr. Neil Wetzel, head judge for the showcase. "The hard work these young musicians did with their directors is inspiring."

The five other bands to advance to the finals round are the Boyertown Area Senior High School Big Band, director Glen A. Brumbach; the Freedom High School Jazz Band, director Andrew Lynn; the Kutztown Area High School Jazz Band, director Doug Matz; the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts’ 11 O’clock Lab Band, director Dr. Frank Dibussolo; and the Pocono Mountain East High School Jazz Ensemble, Director Timothy Eick.

The showcase finals will be presented March 11 at 4pm at the ArtsQuest Center's Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, with the grand prize being the opportunity to open for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band May 12 during the "RiverJazz" festival presented by Concannon Miller.

During the finals, each band will perform a 20-minute musical set before a live audience and a panel of music educator judges. The event will also include an official awards presentation for the top soloists and top sections, but the grand prize winner won't be announced until March 24 during a one-hour TV special to be aired on Channel 69 WFMZ-TV at 9pm.

Tickets for the SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase finals are $5 and are on sale now. They may be purchased at www.artsquest.org or by calling 610-332-3378.

For more information on the showcase, visit www.artsquest.org.

In his email about the jazz ensemble's accomplishment, O'Connell said that senior member Chris Nagy "was given the top trumpet soloist award of the evening."

Nagy will also participate in the Musikfest All Star Jazz Band under Wetzel's direction, and he has been accepted to perform with the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association's (PMEA) All-State Jazz Ensemble at the organization's annual convention in Lancaster, he added.

O'Connell also announced that Saucon Valley senior tuba player Kyle Marshall has been accepted by audition to perform with the PMEA All-State Honors Band, which will perform in Lancaster as well.  

"Kyle placed second chair after auditions at Region V State Band...in Chambersburg," he said.