The Spencerport High School Vocal Jazz group now has a new trophy to add to its collection: Vocal Jazz Grand Champion of the Roxbury (NJ) Choral Invitational. Members received the honor when they competed against concert, show and jazz choirs from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Judges included Darmon Meader and Peter Eldridge from the Grammy Award-winning New York Voices; Larry Lapin, professor of jazz studies at the University of Miami; and Greg Jasperse, a composer, arranger and recording artist from Chicago. Spencerport Vocal Jazz, a 17-member ensemble under the direction of Alan Jones, is New York's only high school a cappella vocal jazz ensemble and one of a few in the country. Their afternoon adjudicated performance was followed by a clinic with the panel of judges. Their score ranked the Spencerport singers at the top in the vocal jazz category and earned them a spot in the evening showcase at this prestigious choral festival. At the conclusion of the concert, Spencerport was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy in the vocal jazz category and given a gold rating trophy as well. Jenna Least and Alex Colby both received trophies for their outstanding individual performances. Aly Ellis, Jenna Least, Amanda Plucknette and Andrew White performed and were judged in the soloist category and impressed the judges with their musicianship, Jones said. Spencerport Vocal Jazz, along with the Jazz Band and Women's Choir, will take their talents to Chicago for the Heritage Music Festival at the end of April. |
