Clark College's 54th annual Jazz Fest has a few surprises      

Three days, 57 bands, and more than a few firsts–the 54th Annual Clark College Jazz Festival had plenty to keep people entertained. The event, which draws jazz bands from middle and high schools around the region, kept Gaiser Student Center swinging with big-band music January 28-30.

For 2016, the Dale Beacock Memorial Sweepstakes trophy was awarded to Battle Ground High School Advanced Jazz Band, Battle Ground, Washington. This is the first time Battle Ground had taken the Sweepstakes trophy in at least a decade. Many of the band’s members have been directed by Greg McKelvey since middle school.

In other surprises, La Center–which had not been to the festival in more than 10 years–took third place in the A division. In the AA division, a newcomer to the festival, South Whidbey High, took first place, ending Hockinson High’s five-year tenure at the top.

Find out about more Clark College music events coming up during winter quarter.

RESULTS

Thursday, January 28, 2016 middle school jazz ensemble finals results:

• 1^st place – Jane Addams Middle School, Seattle
• 2^nd place – Eckstein Middle School, Seattle
• 3^rd place – Chief Umtuch Middle School, Battle Ground and Beaumont Middle School, Portland OR

Outstanding Middle School Jazz Musician certificates were presented to:

Lukas Miller, VSAA; Evan Siegel, VSAA; Tanner Linton, Hockinson; Ashton Hemming, Chief Umtuch; Dominic Mendoza, Chief Umtuch; George Fulton, Eckstein; Anna Thilke, Eckstein; Aiden Shapero, Eckstein; Colin Brace, Jane Addams; Jack Atwater, Jane Addams; Hannah McCollum, Beaumont; Aaron Freedman, Beaumont; Alex Wagstaff, Beaumont; Owen Traw, Beaumont.

Friday, January 29, 2016 A and AA division high school jazz ensemble finals results:

A Division

• 1^st place – Creswell I High School, Creswell, OR
• 2^nd place – Northwinds Homeschool, Port Angeles
• 3^rd place – La Center High School, La Center

AA Division

• 1^st place – South Whidbey High School, Langley
• 2^nd place – Hockinson High School, Hockinson
• 3^rd place – Mead II High School, Spokane

Outstanding high school musician awards for the A Division were presented to:

Gabe Pol, VSAA; Aubrey Hatch, Creswell 2; Diego Romero, McLaughlin; Brendan Smith, McLaughlin; Adam Kennedy, Northwinds; Claire Henninger, Northwinds; Tyrelle Massey, Woodland.

Outstanding high school musician awards for the AA Division were presented to:

Lorenzo Ponce, Ridgefield; Vincent DePiuto, Central Catholic; Connor Brennan, Mt. Spokane; Kent Stricker, Colombia River; Liam Twomey, South Whidbey; Nick Torres, Washougal; Nick Baciuc, Hockinson.

Saturday, January 30, 2016 AAA and AAAA division high school jazz ensemble finals results:

AAA Division

• 1^st place – Mead High School, Spokane
• 2^nd place – Roosevelt II High School, Seattle
• 3^rd place – Meadowdale High School, Lynwood

Outstanding high school musician awards for the AAA Division were presented to:

Nikki Anderson, Bothell II; Hunter Coleman, Mountain View II; Gabe James, Mead I; Michael Galeotti, Mead I; Jacob Volz, Meadowdale; Carter Eng, Roosevelt II.

AAAA Division

• 1^st place – Battle Ground High School Advanced Jazz, Battle Ground
• 2^nd place – Roosevelt I High School, Seattle
• 3^rd place – Garfield High School, Seattle

Outstanding high school musician awards for the AAAA Division were presented to:

Mariah Jones, Kelso; Jacob Sanders, Chiawana; Steve Montecucco, Battle Ground; Brandon Pressley, West Salem I; Calvin Huynh, Bothell; Santosh Sharma, Roosevelt I; Isaac Poole, Garfield.

Photo: Clark College/Shelly Williams