Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Brunswick High jazz musicians shine at state festival

BY DARREN FISHELL Times Record Staff

BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick High School jazz program brought home state honors after a weekend at the Maine State Jazz Festival in Bar Harbor. 
Music director Mike Scarpone said Monday that the school’s jazz ensemble made BHS history, placing second in its division.
“We’ve never had a jazz ensemble place in state competition before,” Scarpone said. “It’s been a nice shot in the arm for them.”
Two combos also won top honors against schools of similar size.
The trio of Sam Rowe on piano, Hannah Judd on bass and Patrick Brown on guitar took first in their division with arrangements of the songs “Dahoud,” “Dedicated to You” and “Recorda Me.”
Out of eight combos in the division, each member of the trio also took three of five “outstanding musicianship” awards.
The sextet of Nathaniel Vilas on piano, Jack Labreque on drums, George Rowe on bass, Hannah Vilas on tenor saxophone, Walter Martin on trombone and Kathryn Eldridge on trumpet took second place in their division with arrangements of “Billie’s Bounce,” “My Romance” and “Blues for All.”
Pianist Nathaniel Vilas also earned an outstanding musicianship award for his performance in that group.
The ensemble group also took home “outstanding soloist” awards, with Nathaniel Vilas on piano, Patrick Brown on guitar, and Sam Rowe on piano taking those titles.
“I’m really, really super proud of them,” Scarpone said Monday.
Scarpone said the school band will travel to Williamsburg, Va., at the end of April to compete in Heritage Festival competition.
The jazz bands will hold their next local concert on May 11 — jazz night — but audiences can sit in on any of the group’s rehearsals, Scarpone said.
A schedule of rehearsals and BHS music events can be found at brunswickmusic.org/calendar/.
http://www.timesrecord.com/news/2012-03-20/Local/Brunswick_High_jazz_musicians_shine_at_state_festi.html

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