The DeMiero Jazz Festival
Your taste in music says a lot about you. A chance to share a special occasion with music brings us closer to friends and family. And a concert featuring both local young talent and professionals is a wonderful combination. Edmonds has it all in the form of the DeMiero Jazz Festival taking place this year on March 10,11 and 12 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
If you don’t have a child who plays an instrument at school or sings in a choir, you may not know about the Festival. Under the auspices of Frank DeMiero, director of our own Sno-King Chorale, the Festival will be celebrating its 40th year, as the highlight of the musical calendar in the Northwest.
During those three days in March there will be clinics and workshops for more than 1,000 students, including 15 jazz professionals, who will be part of an unparalleled musical experience. Some invitees come from as far away as East Anchorage High School. There are also 70 jazz vocal groups, including those from our local school district, participating this year.
What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it is for these young people!
During the day there are workshops and clinics where students can get one-on-one quality time with professionals in the jazz genre. These musical legends will be mentoring our rising stars, and everyone benefits. Buying a ticket for the evening concerts means you will see it all come together with style and finesse.
This type of hands-on experience can be so valuable to young artists who want to emulate their musical heroes. But there is also a great opportunity for awareness and sharing styles among the visiting groups. It broadens skill levels in instrument performance and stage presence. Singing in newly formed small groups, before a large audience, also establishes personal confidence.
The daytime clinics, workshops and master classes are free and open to the public. No advance registration is necessary, daily workshops are on a drop-in basis. The evening concerts require paid tickets. The Festival organization is seeking to establish scholarships in the name of the late, great, Tim Hauser, of “Manhattan Transfer” fame.
Check the website, www.DeMierojazzfest.org for ticket prices and biography briefs of some of the professional music educators who will be in attendance.
