The festival, held in Boston, Massachusetts, was hosted by the Berklee College of Music. Over 200 high school jazz groups participated in the event, coming from states across the country as well as from Puerto Rico. Representing CHS were seniors Gage Blanchflower, Tom Corey, Tristan Ethier, and Tyler Ferrara; junior Julia D’Antico; and sophomores Greyson Ramsay and Max Riley.
On February 11th, seven Coventry High School musicians had the opportunity to perform at the 49th Annual Berklee Jazz Festival.
The festival, held in Boston, Massachusetts, was hosted by the Berklee College of Music. Over 200 high school jazz groups participated in the event, coming from states across the country as well as from Puerto Rico. Representing CHS were seniors Gage Blanchflower, Tom Corey, Tristan Ethier, and Tyler Ferrara; junior Julia D’Antico; and sophomores Greyson Ramsay and Max Riley. These seven students make up Coventry High School’s jazz combo band.
Mr. Smith is the Unified Arts Curriculum Coordinator at CHS, as well as the band and jazz band teacher and director of the combo. According to Smith, the seven students volunteered to be part of jazz combo at the beginning of the year. The students get together to rehearse on their own and perform at community events. In the past, they have performed at the Knotty Oak Room, Indigo Pizza, Quidnessett Country Club, and other locations. Prior to attending the event, the students were visited by Berklee faculty member Mr. Tomassi, who worked with them on their set.
At the festival, each high school group had a scheduled time to perform a set which was less than 18 minutes. Afterward, a clinician worked with the band on how to improve regarding their performance.
A trophy was awarded to the judges’ choice of best soloist performance, and this year the recipient of that award was CHS’ own Tristan Ethier, for his solo on the tenor saxophone.
“You get to listen to other groups and faculty ensembles,” said Smith, when asked what made the Berklee jazz festival a positive experience. “Not only do you get to listen to jazz combos, you also get to hear jazz ensembles and vocal groups.” In addition to jazz groups, also performing at the event was a Latin group in addition to the cover band Tower of Power.
Various Berklee programs and college tracks were presented during the jazz festival for students looking to attend Berklee College of Music and pursue a career in the field.
The CHS combo “went to the event before, a long time ago,” Mr. Smith explained, and the reason the band went this year is to “make sure high schoolers had the opportunity to experience jazz as well as Berklee itself.”
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