The Spencerport Jazz Band, under the direction of John Viavattine, won first place in the large ensemble category and received $10,000 in scholarship funds to Berklee summer programs at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival. Spencerport Vocal Jazz, directed by Alan Jones, earned second place in the vocal jazz category and received $3,000 in scholarship funds to Berklee summer programs. David Daggett of the jazz band and Emily Coleman of vocal jazz received the Judge's Choice award following their performance. The judges also recognized the outstanding musicianship of the lead trumpets Jennifer Schoepfel and Zoe Kostarellis. The festival featured 221 ensembles and nearly 3,000 student musicians, making it the country's largest high school jazz festival. Each ensemble had a maximum of 18 minutes to demonstrate their skills before a panel of faculty from the Berklee School of Music whose alumni include a who's-who of jazz and popular musicians. They include Branford Marsalis, John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, Quincy Jones and Diana Krall. April 8, 2007 |
