Interlochen, Mich. – Nine Interlochen Arts Academy jazz musicians traveled to Monterey, California to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s fourth annual Next Generation Festival April 3 - 6, 2008.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students,” said Bill Sears, conductor of jazz ensembles and instructor of jazz saxophone at Interlochen Arts Academy. “The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the most established festivals in the country and to be associated with it on an educational level was wonderful.”
Every year, the Monterey Jazz Festival invites top student musicians from around the country and the world to participate in the Next Generation Festival. The festival featured the nation’s most talented middle school, high school and college jazz musicians. In addition to cash awards, the top combo wins the opportunity to perform at the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
The Academy jazz combo includes: saxophonists Aaron Johnson, Adi Evans, Cory Anderson, Dylan Anderson; trumpeter Sean O'Donnell; pianist Gil Scott Chapman; guitarist Peter Wagner; bassist Max Beckman and drummer Gabe Smith, under the direction of Bill Sears.
"Our trip to the Monterey Next Generation Festival was a fantastic opportunity to hear and meet other great musicians from across the globe,” said saxophonist and Academy sophomore, Dylan Anderson.
Max Beckman, a bassist and senior at the Academy, said it was inspiring to hear other students play. “I thoroughly enjoyed the Berkeley Latin jazz group and the group from the Prague Conservatory,” he said.
Sears said the other groups selected were all fantastic high school jazz programs and it was a privilege to be included with them.
Interlochen Arts Academy attracts exceptionally talented and motivated students from nearly every state and more than 20 other countries to study creative writing, music, dance, visual arts, theatre, motion picture arts and college-preparatory academics.
