Jazz Ensembles Honored at Prestigious Berklee, Mingus High School Competitions

 

Earlier this month, both ensembles travelled to the Berklee School of Music for its annual High School Jazz Festival along with more than 250 other ensembles from across the nation. What makes the Berklee competition so unique is that traditional high schools are judged by the same standard as schools that specialize in performing arts and music and both must compete for first, second, third, and honorable mention prizes in their classes, which are determined only by a school’s enrollment in grades 10, 11, and 12.

 

The Big Band received the third-place prize in its class and Michael Manasseh ’19 received the Judges’ Award for his performance with the ensemble. The Select 1 Combo received the honorable mention prize in its class and Joseph Nedder ’18 received the Judges’ Award for his contribution to the performance.

Click here to see a full list of results and listen to each ensemble's performance.

 

Riding the momentum of this competition, the Big Band shipped off to New York for the annual Charles Mingus High School Jazz Competition where they were one of three finalists chosen from a nationwide audition of 150 bands. While they did not return with any hardware, being chosen as one of the top three jazz ensembles in the country is honor enough for Big Band Director Philippe Crettien.

 

The Mingus Competition only awards the top band in the country, and while we did not win the award we played some of the best music I have heard in my time at Rivers,” Mr. Crettien said at Tuesday’s All-School Meeting. “I am extremely proud of these students and happy they were able to play at their very best on the national stage”.

 

Jack Baker ’18, Jackson Barno ’16, Sam Denomme ’16, Alex Gomez ’17, Nazeli Hagen ’17, Shahen Hagen ’17, Theo Haviland ’19, Sophie Jacobs ’18, Dylan Keusch ’19, Nina Knight ’18, Michael Manasseh ’19, Joseph Nedder ’18, Gray Pierson ’19, Andrew Reale ’17, Bradley Stoller ’19, Alex Takoudes ’19, Roger Wirkala ’16, and Lincoln Zaleski ’16.

 

Alex Gomez ’17, Joseph Nedder ’18, Uli Schwendener ’17, and Lincoln Zaleski ’16.