Tired of winter?
Let the Shawnee Jazz Festival blow your blues away!
On Friday, Feb. 8, jazz bands from more than 10 area high schools will compete for top honors at Shawnee High School.
The annual Shawnee Jazz Festival will feature many sweet and sassy jazz standards and some very accomplished young musicians, including several talented members of the All South Jersey Honors Band.
“This will be a showcase for the tremendous musical talent we have in our South Jersey schools,” said Sara Cureton, event coordinator and member of the Shawnee Band Parents Association (SBPA), which organized the jazz fest.
Many of the Shawnee students participated in workshops last year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Music department faculty members from area colleges and universities will serve as judges for the Feb. 8 event.
“With so many jazz bands participating this year, there will be music to satisfy every jazz enthusiast, from swing and Latin to measured ballads,” said Shawnee Director of Bands Nick Rotindo. “Our Jazz Ensemble plays with the heart and soul of real jazz musicians and will close the concert with a couple of great numbers. We’re very proud of them all, and appreciate all of the community support.”
The music festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m.
Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Seniors with a Lenape Regional High School District Golden Pass are admitted free.
A variety of foods will be available for purchase in the cafeteria. In addition, the SBPA will raffle off an iPad mini at the event. Raffle proceeds benefit the SBPA scholarship fund.
The jazz competition will be held in the Shawnee High School auditorium, located at 600 Tabernacle Road in Medford.