Manson Jazz Band earns acceptance to Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival

MANSON – The honors jazz band at Manson High School has been accepted to perform at the 48th Annual Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, Calif. The festival is free to the public audience, and student performers from throughout the country will perform in the downtown city streets during the three-day festival taking place March 9 through 11.
“(It’s) going to be a new and fresh opportunity for the kids,” said Manson Band Instructor Matt Brown, “we’re going to see some of the best jazz bands in the nation performing.”
The Next Generation Jazz Festival (NGJF) is held every spring and over 1,300 of the nation’s top student musicians are selected to perform and compete downtown Monterey, Calif. in front of a street-field audience. According to Monterey Jazz Festival staff, the festival is one of the most inclusive festivals in the United States, and invites performances by middle and high school, as well as collegiate level groups of every kind including big bands, vocal ensembles and soloists and conglomerate bands.
The three-day educational performance and workshop allows students to hear and play with some of the most successful student performers from around the United States, utilize techniques, tips, and critiques gathered through workshops led by professional performers, and play amongst each other and for others all around downtown Monterey.
At the beginning of the school year, Brown submitted a video for application to the Jazz Festival at the behest of Superintendent Matt Charlton. Every other year, the honors group travels to Moscow, Idaho to participate in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival held at the University of Idaho, explained Brown.
“We’ve had a great time at that one,” he stated, “it’s just a wonderful festival.”
But, this year Superintendent Charlton expressed his desire to see the group go somewhere a little further. After a bit of searching and prompting from fellow music teachers, Brown decided to apply for Monterey and was beyond excited about the acceptance.
The anticipated cost for the trip is estimated between $20-25,000, and the jazz band has been working at collecting monies by way of fundraisers and performances from several local businesses, but are looking for more sponsors to ensure their attendance at the NGJF.
For more information on how to contribute to the Manson Jazz Band’s trip expenses to partake in this once in a lifetime opportunity, contact Manson School District Superintendent Matt Charlton at (509) 687-3140, or for more information on the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org/NGJF.