Festival to take place April 7 and begin at 5 p.m.
Shawnee High School will host their annual jazz festival Friday, April 7, 2017. Jazz bands from the Lenape School District, as well as several other districts, are scheduled to compete. The program includes many popular jazz standards and features some very accomplished young musicians, including talented members of the All-South Jersey Honor Bands. Also, there will be a guest performance by local favorite, M-Town Jazz.
“This is not only a showcase for the tremendous musical talent we have in our South Jersey schools but is also a really entertaining evening for the community. We urge everyone to come out and enjoy an affordable night of great jazz music” said Jeanne Hauser, event coordinator and a member of the Shawnee Band Parents Association which organizes the Jazz Fest.
The jazz festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $8 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Seniors with a Lenape Regional School District Golden Pass are admitted for free. The Shawnee Band Parents will be selling hot food and baked goods in the cafeteria all evening. The competition will be held in the Shawnee High School auditorium, 600 Tabernacle Road, Medford.
Event Judges will consist of music department faculty members from area colleges and universities. Between the sets performed by local high school jazz ensembles, Medford’s M-town Jazz Jam will perform. M-Town Jazz Jam includes several professional musicians and music educators who rehearse and perform with the students throughout South Jersey. They are part of the South Jersey Music Education Partnership (SJMEP), a local nonprofit that is dedicated to the development of student musicians through scholarships for private instruction, performance opportunities and mentorships. More information on SJMEP events will be available the night of the jazz festival.
