Cleveland High School

Cleveland High School Jazz Festival

Saturday, April 28, 2012
3400 SE 26th Ave
Portland, OR 97202

Welcome everyone to the webpage for the 3rd annual Cleveland High School Jazz Festival! With this adjudicated, competitive festival, Cleveland High is opening its doors in order to foster the continued awareness and appreciation of jazz. The festival will occur on Saturday, April 28th, and is sure to be a wonderful experience for the students involved. Applications are available below…hope you can join us!

Sincerely, 
Kenney Polson
Festival Director
(503) 380-9861

Here are the links to the festival rules/regulations and application form: 


Rules and Regulations 

Application Form (PDF) 

Application Form (Word Document) – can be e-mailed to kpolson@pps.net

The judges for this year’s event are as follow:

Mel Brown

Founder of the Mel Brown Quartet and Sextet, Mel performed with Diana Ross and the Temptations before turning to jazz, becoming the drummer of choice for jazz legends such as Leroy Vinnegar and Monty Alexander. His famed quartet can be seen at Jimmy Mak’s in Portland three nights a week. Mel also is very involved in music education for high school and college students, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Portland Music Association, and the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz.

Thara Memory

Recently inducted into the Jazz Society of Oregon’s Hall of Fame, Thara has performed with jazz superstars such as Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, and Lou Rawls. As legendary trumpet player and composer, Thara has played with the Mel Brown Quartet and Sextet, and his Thara Memory Super Band. Thara has also been active in music education for over 30 years in the region, founding the Accelerated Music Program (AMP), a nonprofit organization aiming to foster interest in music in the public school environment.

Stan Bock

One of the Pacific Northwest’s most heralded trombonists, Stan has appeared on over 35 recordings, including albums from his esteemed Stan Bock Ensemble, one of which garnered him a Grammy nomination. A regular of the award-winning Northwest Ray Charles Tribute, Stan also acts as the Jazz Director at Willamette University. In addition, he teaches low brass and coaches brass ensembles and jazz combos, and continues to appear as a guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator for various music festivals, concerts, and events throughout the United States.

RULES/REGULATIONS -- JAZZ ENSEMBLES


ELIGIBILITY

1. The festival is open to all accredited high school and middle school instrumental jazz ensembles of this region.
2. All jazz ensemble members must represent a school and be actively enrolled in the school at the time of the competition.
3. Jazz ensembles must be under the supervision of a qualified state certified school teacher.
4. A faculty member must be responsible for the ensemble throughout the festival.
5. An assistant or student may front the ensemble.
6. Faculty, director, or professional musicians are not allowed to perform in the ensemble unless they choose to perform in a non-competitive capacity for comments only.

REGISTRATION

1. Divisions in the high school competition will be based on the total student body enrollment of the school represented as follows:
   • “Middle School” Division: All middle school bands
   • “A” Division: 500-1200
   • “Open” Division: All others 
2. Ensembles competing from magnet high schools specializing in performing arts must register under open or perform in a non-competitive capacity for comments only.
3. Applications must be accompanied with a complete personnel list- please limit chaperones to only four per jazz ensemble including the director.
4. Upon arrival at Cleveland High School, ensembles should immediately register at the registration desk in the Main Hall and receive festival credentials and information.

PERFORMANCE

IMPORTANT: JAZZ ENSEMBLES HAVE Thirty (30) MINUTES TO PERFORM, INCLUDING SET-UP AND TEAR-DOWN.

1. Thirty (30) minutes begin when the first member of your jazz ensemble enters the stage.
2. Ensembles exceeding thirty (30) minutes will be disqualified.
3. Rhythm sections should be back stage fifteen (15) minutes before your scheduled performance time.
4. Cleveland High School will furnish an acoustic piano, drum set, bass amp, guitar amp, vibes, and music stands on stage, if needed.
5. Schools that apply early have a better chance of getting desired time slots.
6. Under no circumstances are stage microphones to be moved or tampered with.
7. You will be provided a sound set-up form to inform the audio technician of your audio needs; make sure to turn this in to registration with your other staging forms to ensure your needs are met.

FINALS AND AWARDS

Depending solely on number of participants (This will be announced via email one week prior to Festival) Since our festival is relatively new we will not have finals unless announced after all groups have registered. If you are not notified chances are, we are NOT having finals.

If we have finals the following rules will apply:

1. Three jazz ensembles from each division will be selected to perform in the evening finals competition.
2. Preliminary scores will be disregarded for the finals competition.
3. If the ensembles cannot perform in the evening finals competition, it will be disqualified and another ensemble selected.
4. Ensemble will have fifteen (15) minutes or two selections (director’s choice) to perform for the finals competition (no time disqualification).
5. Ensembles are required to play new music for the finals
6. Trophies and outstanding musician awards will be distributed that night, following the finals competition.
7. Three trophies for first, second, and third place will be presented to each division.

IF THERE IS NO NEED FOR FINALS: AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE HOST BAND (featuring the adjudicators) PERFORMS.