School bands excel at the Oregon Jazz Festival

The Sisters middle and high school jazz bands participated in the 2008 Oregon Jazz Festival, hosted in Eugene by the University of Oregon and Lane Community College.

Participating students shared in performance workshops as part of their school bands. Students also attended performances by outstanding college bands, as well as various clinics and concerts presented by jazz educators and professionals from throughout the country.

The event this year hosted more than 30 middle and high school bands, including the seven members of the Sisters Middle School Jazz Combo. These students gave an excellent performance, receiving a wealth of positive feedback and encouragement by adjudicators presiding over their performance workshop session.

Though the event does not use a competitive format to rank bands, outstanding performers and groups are recognized. Two Sisters Middle School students received special festival awards. Trevor Ford was awarded "Outstanding Middle School Bassist," and Brett Pray was awarded "Outstanding Middle School Guitarist".

Three jazz groups from Sisters High School also participated in the Oregon Jazz Festival, all giving standout performances well received by adjudicators: the Varsity Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo One and Jazz Combo Two.

The 14 members of the Sisters High School Varsity Jazz Ensemble were chosen to perform on the festival showcase concert, an honor extended to only two bands. This was the fourth time in seven years a Sisters High School group was asked to perform at the Oregon Jazz Festival Showcase Concert. This year the concert featured New York trombonist Luis Bonillia and his quartet.

Additionally, Sisters High School students Jared Henderson and Jacob French received festival awards for "Outstanding High School Bassist" and "Outstanding High School Guitarist," honors which include full tuition scholarships to the Oregon Summer Music Camp held the last week of July at the University of Oregon.