Mingus HS Finalist News: Ken East Honors Jazz Band Heading to Big Apple for Prominent Performance

Thu, Jan. 14 2010

Mingus Competition Finalists Announced

Tue, Jan. 5 2010

MINGUS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

BIG BAND CATEGORY-

RegularBoston Latin Big Band. Boston Latin School, Boston, MA. Band Director: Paul J. Pitts

Kenmore East High School Jazz Band, Tonawanda, NY. Band Director: Phil Aguglia

Rivers Big Band, The Rivers School, Weston, MA. Band Director: Philippe Crettien

BIG BAND CATEGORY-Specialized

Academy Big Band, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, CT.Band Director: Douglas Maher

Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rochester, NY. Band Director: Howard Potter

Manhattan School of Music Precollege Big Band, New York, NY. Band Director: Jeremy Manasia

COMBO CATEGORY-Regular

Foxborough High School Jazz Quintet, Foxborough, MA. Director: Stephen C. Massey

Rio Americano Combo, Rio Americano High School, Sacramento, CA.Band Director: Max Kiesner

Rivers Select 1 Combo, The Rivers School, Weston, MA. Band Director: Philippe Crettien

COMBO CATEGORY-Specialized

Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rochester, NY. Band Director: Howard Potter

Manasia Improv Ensemble, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY.Band Director: Jeremy Manasia

York College Blue Notes, New York, NY. Band Director: Tom Zlabinger

Please call 212-736-4749 for more information.

Mingus High School Competition & Festival Held in New York City February 12-15, 2010 with Mingus Gospel Concert at St. Bart’s

Tue, Dec. 15 2009

*Nationwide Charles Mingus High School Competition*Four-Day Festival Held in New York City February 12-15, 2010

*Mingus Gospel Concert at St. Bart’s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2009 - New York, NY

Let My Children Hear Music/The Charles Mingus Institute, a New York City-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to expanding and promoting the legacy of Charles Mingus, announces exciting lineup for Charles Mingus High School Competition and weekend festival.

This year’s Competition was expanded to include high school students nationwide and extend their New York experience beyond the Manhattan School of Music, where the Competition and clinics will be held. More activities were added for New York residents to make this a true festival celebrating Mingus music.

A full day of clinics and workshops will take place at the Manhattan School of Music on Saturday. There will be master classes for instruments and sections plus lectures and clinics in connection with Mingus music exploring themes such as “Thematic Development in Improvisation” and “Deconstructing Melody,” “TheBlues at the Heart of Mingus, a special Band Director’s Workshop directed by Justin DiCioccio, and a student jam with Mingus musicians. Prominent educators and musicians who are deeply familiar with Mingus music will oversee these events.

On Saturday night there will be an extraordinary public concert of Mingus gospel music at the landmark St. Bartholomew’s (St. Bart’s) Church on Park Avenue and 50th Street. This unique event will not only return Mingus music to its blues & gospel church roots, but will feature the sort of  instrumentation—harp, bassoon, French horn, bass clarinet (along with the more familiar trumpet, trombone and saxophones)—that illustrates Mingus’s long-time mission to open up the instrumental possibilities so children can be inspired to play in symphony orchestras as well as jazz bands. The concert will include such rousing numbers as “Better Get Hit In Your Soul,”  “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting,” “Ecclusiastics,” “Consider Me, Oh Lord” (from a Langston Hughes collaboration), and much more. There will also be a reception for high school participants prior to the concert and opening remarks by Gunther Schuller.

On Sunday the daylong Mingus High School Competition will feature the battle between the top 12 big bands and combos from around the country and a concert by the MSM Mingus Combo. Monday the Mingus Big Band performs at Jazz Standard as part of its regular weekly residency.

All participants, whether finalists or not, are invited to attend all weekend events. The Competition provides an exceptional musical experience for its participants and an important addition to the many cultural attractions in New York City.  It has already become a much-anticipated part of the national and local cultural landscape, celebrating New York as the arts capital of the world and Charles Mingus as one of our most significant artists.Please call 212-736-4749 for more information.

Friday, Feb 12: TBA

Saturday, Feb 13: Full day of clinics, master classes, and jams at ManhattanSchool of Music.

Evening Mingus concert at St. Bartholomew's (St. Bart’s) Church bringing Mingus music back to its gospel & blues roots and featuring special instrumentation

Sunday, Feb 14: Mingus High School Competition at Manhattan School of Music.

Concert by MSM Mingus Combo

Monday, Feb 15: Mingus Big Band at Jazz Standard 

Mingus High School Competition: Foxboro trumpet player at the Grammys

Wed, Jan. 27 2010

"Matt Muirhead, Foxboro High School Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band and other groups, leaves for California Saturday to play with an elite student jazz band as part of the 52nd annual Grammy awards celebration.And from Feb. 12-15, Muirhead will be with a Foxboro High jazz quintet competing in the annual Charles Mingus Jazz Competition in New York City.The 17-year-old, who began playing trumpet in fifth grade, enjoys all types of music but is heavily focused on jazz."Jazz provides a level of intimacy, democracy and interaction that you don't necessarily feel in other genres," said Muirhead.Next month Muirhead and fellow FHS students Brendan Thomas, Ian Ayers, Christian Lyman and Connor Schultze will be traveling to New York City for the Feb. 12-15 Mingus competition at the Manhattan School of Music.The student-directed band will be competing against finalists from The Rivers School in Weston and Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, Cal., playing the music of the legendary jazz pianist, bandleader and composer.School music director Steve Massey said he's especially proud of Muirhead and the other students' accomplishment in entering and attaining a finalist position at the second annual Mingus competition. Students took the lead in suggesting a Foxboro entry and rehearsed on their own, beginning last summer, using their own arrangements.

Mingus High School Competition subway ad

Wed, Jan. 27 2010

Mingus High School Competition press from schools-Eastman

Wed, Feb. 10 2010

NY Daily News: Composer Charles Mingus' music will be played at free 2-day festival

Mon, Feb. 8 2010

Mingus High School Competition-Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes: Reminders of the Future of Jazz

Tue, Feb. 23 2010

Mingus High School Competition: Kenmore on TV news

Thu, Feb. 11 2010

TV news: Kenmore East High School competing in the Charles Mingus High School Competition

Mingus HS Competition: "Foxboro HS has all that jazz"

Wed, Feb. 24 2010

Mingus High School Competition: Rio Americano

Fri, Feb. 12 2010

Mingus High School Competition Winners Announced

Wed, Feb. 17 2010

THE WINNING ENSEMBLES AND OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS ARE: BIG BAND CATEGORYAdjudicators:  Justin DiCioccio, Conrad Herwig and Boris KozlovBEST BIG BAND – REGULAR HIGH SCHOOLThe Rivers Big Band, Philippe Crettien, Band DirectorThe Rivers School; Weston, MassachusettsBEST BIG BAND – SPECIALIZED SCHOOLAcademy Big Band, Douglas Maher, Band DirectorGreater Hartford Academy of the Arts; Hartford, ConnecticutMINGUS SPIRIT AWARDThe Mingus Spirit Award was given to the Rio Americano Combo from the Rio Americano High Schoolin Sacramento, California.  Maxwell Kiesner, Band Director.  Zach Giberson, alto saxophone; Zach Darf, tenor saxophone; Victor San Pedro, guitar; David Williams, piano;  Nathan Swedlow, bass; Jarrett Tracy, drumsCOMBO CATEGORYAdjudicators: Gunther Schuller, Vincent Herring and Andrew HomzyBEST COMBO – REGULAR HIGH SCHOOLThe Foxborough High School Jazz Quintet, Stephen C. Massey, Band DirectorFoxborough High School; Foxborough, MassachusettsBrendan Thomas, alto and tenor saxophones; Matt Muirhead, trumpet; Ian Ayers, guitar; Connor Schultze, Bass;  and Christian Lyman, drumsBEST COMBO – SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLManasia Improv Ensemble, Jeremy Manasia, Band DirectorManhattan School of Music Precollege; New York, New YorkElijah Shiffer, alto saxophone; Kevin Sun, tenor saxophone; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet; Luke Celenza, piano;  Daryl Johns, bass; and Clint Mobley, drumsBEST ARRANGERElijah Shiffer awarded “Outstanding Arranger” for his arrangement of Mingus’s Jelly Roll.  Mr. Shiffer,  from Mount Vernon, NY, attends the Manhattan School of Music Precollege.OUTSTANDING SECTIONThe Saxophone Section from the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Big Band; Jeremy Manasia, Band DirectorElijah Shiffer, David Kolchmeyer, alto sax; Kevin Sun, Miguel Rodriguez, tenor sax; and Michael Schramm, baritone sax

OUTSTANDING SOLOISTSBass:  Connor SchultzeFoxborough High School, Foxborough, MassachusettsGuitar:  Victor San PedroRio Americano High School, Sacramento, CaliforniaTrombone: Tom ChalmersTrumpet: Ross HoytBass:  Henry FraserThe Rivers School, Weston, MassachusettsTrumpet: Adam O’FarrillPiano:  Luke CelenzaAlto Sax: Elijah ShifferTenor Sax: Kevin SunBass:  Daryl JohnsManhattan School of Music Precollege, New York, NYDrums:  Xavier HillYork College/CUNY, New York, NYPiano:  Mike RaleighBoston Latin School, Boston, MassachusettsAlto Sax: Elliot ScozzaroKenmore East High School, Tonawanda, New YorkTenor Sax: Lomar BrownGreater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, ConnecticutSoprano Sax: Erik StabnauTrombone: Nelson CampbellEastman School of Music, Rochester, NYThe Charles Mingus High School Competition was open this year to high school jazz combos and big bands nationwide. (Last year’s competition, the first of its kind, was open to ensembles from the Northeast.)  The goal of the competition is to provide an opportunity for high school music students to explore the enormously varied works of Charles Mingus and to find their own voices within the music.  The finalists were chosen from high school jazz bands from across the country: California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.In addition to the Charles Mingus High School Competition that took place on Sunday, the two-day Charles Mingus Festival  included on Saturday, February 13, clinics given by members of the Mingus repertory bands, a student jam session, and a concert of Mingus’s music showcasing his blues and gospel roots. Performing the concert was the Mingus Orchestra, with Gunther Schuller and Harpist Edmar Castaneda, guest artist, given at New York City’s historic St. Bartholomew’s Church.Charles Mingus, a virtuoso bassist, accomplished pianist and bandleader, is recognized as a major 20th-century composer, whose entire works have been acquired by the Library of Congress – a first for jazz, and a first for an African-American composer.  He recorded more than 100 albums and composed more than 300 compositions, music that is still considered far ahead of its time, leaving behind the largest legacy of composition in American music after Duke Ellington.  The Mingus Bands remain devoted to his vast repertoire and under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, play to critical acclaim throughout the world.  Their critical and popular successes are a testament to the power of Mingus’s composition.  The availability of his music through published arrangements, educational books, school courses, and workshops, coupled with the hugely successful Charles Mingus High School Competition, have extended the reach of his legacy

.* * * * *Below is a listing of the participating schools and the repertoire that they played:

HIGH SCHOOL COMBOS Combo Category – Regular High Schools•   Foxborough High School Jazz Quintet – Stephen C. Massy, Band DirectorFoxborough High School, Foxborough, MassachusettsProgram:  Moanin’; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, arr. by group; So Long Eric, arr. by group•   Rio Americano Combo – Maxwell Kiesner, Band DirectorRio Americano High School, Sacramento, CaliforniaProgram: Fables of Faubus, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, O.P. arr. collectively by group•   Rivers Select Combo – Philippe Crettien, Band DirectorThe Rivers School, Weston, MassachusettsProgram: Pithecanthropus Erectus, arr. Todd Chalmers; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, arr. Henry Fraser, Elliot Berman; BetterGet Hit in Your Soul, arr. by Colin Beagan, Ross HoytCombo Category – Specialized High Schools•   Eastman Youth Jazz Combo – Howard Potter, Band DirectorEastman School of Music, Rochester, New YorkProgram:  Fables of Faubus, Ecculsiastics, O.P. arr. collectively by group•    Manasia Improv Ensemble – Jeremy Manasia, Band DirectorManhattan School of Music Precollege, New York, New YorkProgram: Peggy’s Blue Skylight, Jelly Roll, arr. by Elijah Shiffer, Pithecanthropus Erectus•     York College Blue Notes – Tom Zlabinger, Band DirectorYork College/CUNY, New York, New YorkProgram: Slippers, Work Song, Pithecanthropus Erectus, arr. by groupBIG BAND CATEGORYBig Band Category – Regular High Schools•    Boston Latin Big Band – Paul J. Pitts, Band DirectorBoston Latin School, Boston, MassachusettsProgram:  Nostalgia in Times Square, Sue’s Changes, Haitian Fight Song•    Kenmore East High School Jazz Band – Phil Aguglia, Band DirectorKenmore East High School, Tonawanda, New YorkProgram:  Fables of Faubus, Self-Portrait in Three Colors; Better Get Hit in Your Soul•    Rivers Big Band – Philippe Crettien, Band DirectorThe Rivers School, Weston, MassachusettsProgram:  Songs with Orange, Sue’s Changes, Haitian Fight SongBig Band Category – Specialized High Schools•    MSM Precollege Big Band – Jeremy Manasia, Band DirectorManhattan School of Music Precollege, New York, NYProgram: Better Get Hit in Your Soul, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Boogie Stop Shuffle•    Academy Big Band – Douglas Maher, Band DirectorGreater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, ConnecticutProgram: Opus 4, Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love, GG Train•    Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra – Howard Potter, Band DirectorEastman School of Music, Rochester, New YorkProgram: Duke Ellington’s Sounds of Love, Jelly Roll, Haitian Fight Song* * * * *All photos by Brian Hatton

NYT: Mingus High School Competition & FestIval and Mingus Orchestra at St. Bart's

Fri, Feb. 12 2010

★ CHARLES MINGUS FESTIVAL (Saturday and Sunday) The centerpiece of this weekend affair, celebrating the music and memory of the bassist-composer Charles Mingus, is a free concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, featuring the Mingus Orchestra, conducted by Gunther Schuller, in a cathedral setting [St. Bart's]. At Manhattan School of Music on Sunday the Charles Mingus High School Competition culminates in early-evening performances by the MSM’s Mingus Jazz Combo (at 5:30 p.m.) and the professional-grade Mingus Dynasty Band (at 6). MSM 122nd and Broadway, msmnyc.edu / St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue at 51st Street, (212) 378-0248, stbarts.org; free. (Chinen) (details corrected)

NY Post: Mingus High School Competition & FestIval and Mingus Orchestra at St. Bart's

Fri, Feb. 12 2010

"It seems only right that entry would be free to this weekend's tribute to Charles Mingus, who was inarguably one of jazz's most irrepressible figures. The second annual Charles Mingus Festival starts Saturday at 12:15 p.m. with "Mingus Movies," followed by a 2 p.m. rhythm, sax and brass clinic; a 3:30 p.m. jam session featuring high school musicians from all over the country; and a 7 p.m. Mingus Orchestra performance at St. Bartholomew's Church (325 Park Ave., at 50th Street). The party continues Sunday with a 10 a.m. competition among high school jazz combos, a 2:15 p.m. battle of high school big bands, a performance by the Mingus Dynasty at 6 p.m. and, finally, a 6:30 p.m. awards ceremony for the bands that played earlier in the day. Except for Saturday's concert, it all happens at Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Avenue, at East 122nd St.; 212-749-2802, mingusmingusmingus.com."