Javier Fregoso plays trombone with CHS Jazz Band 1 during the Oregon Jazz Festival. Gini Davis/The Chronicle
CRESWELL – Three Creswell High School Jazz Band 1 students were recognized for outstanding musicianship during the Oregon Jazz Festival, held Jan. 24-25 at Lane Community College in Eugene.
Brandon Moehlmann on trombone, Gonzalo Cardenas on trombone and Jackson Velarde on piano were recognized for their solos at the unadjudicated festival that provides an opportunity for student jazz musicians to receive feedback from respected clinicians.
In addition to Creswell’s Jazz Band 1 and Jazz Band 2 performances, the festival also marked the stage debut of the CHS Jazz Combo – Amy Myers (alto sax), Abby Mercer (alto sax), Moehlmann (trombone), Audrey Hecker (trumpet), Cardenas (trombone), Wyatt Petrasek (drums), Chris Culp (bass and vibes) and Velarde (piano and vibes).
”Combo performance is very different than a jazz band performance because it generally gives all the musicians opportunities to solo and the pieces are written for various instrumentations,” said Creswell Music Boosters Club president, Mandy Hoggard. ”This is giving these musicians an opportunity to expand their in-class learning and challenge themselves.”
All CHS groups were directed by Sandi Green.
Although Oregon Jazz was unadjudicated, the competition season is gearing up, with the CHS Concert Band vying for a bid to state during the Warner Pacific University OSAA Qualifying Competition on March 6. The following weekend, the Creswell Middle School Jazz Band and CHS Jazz Choir, Jazz 2 and Jazz 1 will participate in the Clackamas Community College Jazz Festival.
The crescendo of the Creswell Music Program’s competition season will take them more than 450 miles from home: ”Our big trip this year is to the University of Nevada for the Reno Jazz Festival, for Jazz 1 and Jazz Choir,” Hoggard said. ”We leave for that trip on April 22.”
