Sisters bands win recognition

Three groups of Sisters students presented programs at this year's Oregon Jazz Festival held on the campuses of the University of Oregon and Lane Community College. The Sisters High School Varsity Jazz Band, Sisters High School Octet and Sisters Middle School Septet took in all the festival had to offer and also gave back all they could through their performances.

The focus of the Oregon Jazz Festival is to provide feedback and performance advice to students from top jazz educators and performers brought in from around the country to work as adjudicators at the event.

The Varsity Jazz Band students worked with saxophonist/composer Dan Gailey, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Kansas, who offered much appreciation for their performance.

"What a treat it is to hear you; it really is refreshing," he said. "In working at these types of events, it's nice to hear bands which present some moments of mature 'adult music' in their set, as opposed to things that we (the adjudicators) view as 'kids music.' To hear a group which presents an entire program of 'adult music' at this level is outstanding. I hope you have an awareness of how unique that is, even at the college level."

Throughout the day the High School Octet and Middle School Septet also performed and worked with two additional adjudicators: Dave Glenn, trombonist/composer and director of Jazz Studies at Whitman College; and Mike Denny, guitarist/composer who instructs through the University of Oregon and Lane College. Both had conceptual ideas to share with the students about elements of jazz styles which the Sisters students appreciated learning about and plan to put to good use.

While the Oregon Jazz Festival does not use a competitive ranking format, outstanding individuals are recognized. The following Sisters High School students received individual outstanding musicianship awards: Tyson Edmunson; Shalena Edmunson; Wesley Ford; Jacob French; Riley Gilmore; Jared Henderson; Austin Malone; Alexa Orr; Sam Orwig; and Seth Rodriguez.

From Sisters Middle School Trevor Ford, Blake Henderson and Tanner Smith also received individual outstanding musicianship awards. Sisters students also earned awards for outstanding rhythm section, at the high school and middle school level, as well as outstanding high school trumpet section.

Six Sisters students also received full tuition scholarships valued at $340 each to the University of Oregon Summer Jazz Music Camp. Recipients of this award were: Trevor Ford; Wesley Ford; Jacob French; Jared Henderson; Sam Orwig; and Tanner Smith.

Furthermore, the Varsity Jazz Band was proudly chosen as "Outstanding Festival Band," one of a selected two from the 32 student bands participating.

The two outstanding bands are picked to be featured on a headliner guest artist concert which closes the festival. The concert in past years has brought the likes of Marian McPartland, John Faddis, James Moody, Bob Mintzer, Mike Stern and dozens more top musicians to the stage. This year the concert featured tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, a veteran member of the Village Vanguard Orchestra and the Maria Schneider Orchestra.