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Jazz Ensemble News & Announcments​


December 2020 - Winter Concert Recap & Upcoming Events

In early December, the Pace Band program was fortunate to be able to hold their Winter Concert, in which both Jazz Ensemble I & II were able to perform for friends and family.  Additionally, the Jazz 1 combo was asked to perform at a private event, where they entertained with a collection of holiday charts.  With all of these performances, our students expressed gratitude and excitement for how it felt to play for people again, and receive much deserved applause for all of their hard work this year.  Congratulations to all of our students!

At the Band Holiday Event, attendees were treated to JEN student-created holiday entertainment.  In January, more of these JEN combos will be performing, along with both JE1 & JE2, at a brand new Jazz Only concert!  Please visit our CHARMS calendar for more information on this upcoming event.


In late December & early January, JE1 are having recording sessions for their inaugural album!  In addition to recording a collection of songs for their friends and family to enjoy, a selection of these recordings will also be submitted to Downbeat Magazine's 44th Annual Student Music Awards.  Results from this national competition will be announced in May, and details of the JE1 album release will be sent out soon!

Finally, Jazz Ensemble I will be performing on Friday, January 8th at 5pm CST during the Jazz Education Network (JEN) National Conference's JENerations Jazz Festival!  JE1 is one of only five high schools from across the country to be selected to perform at the virtual conference this year!  Our JEN Chapter members are encouraged to sign up to virtually "attend" the conference this year. This is a great opportunity to learn from & watch the concerts of world-famous Jazz musicians, LIVE, from all over the world!

For more information on the JEN National Conference (January 6-9, 2021), please visit the official website:
https://members.jazzednet.org/jen-conference/

November 2020 - JE1 Special Event Success & JEN News

Jazz Ensemble I was excited to perform at their first event since February's Jazz MPA, when the Pensacola Blue Wahoos & Studer Group asked them to be their musical entertainment for their inaugural "Murder Mystery Dinner", which was a huge success.  The students worked extremely hard to put together over 3 hours of music in a short period of time, where they received numerous compliments from attendees & Blue Wahoos staff.  More JE1 events are on the horizon, stemming from the band's successful impression upon area businesses from this event.  

Our Jazz Education Network (JEN) Chapter has been busy as well.  After holding their induction ceremony, several additional JEN sponsored events occurred throughout the month of November, including their own Thanksgiving celebration.  Each JEN Chapter member will now be enrolled as a student member of Jazz Pensacola (a first of it's kind for area schools!) to help spread the the education & enjoyment of Jazz throughout the community!  JEN members are excited to continue to learn about & grow Jazz throughout the school year!

In addition, JEN Chapter members will have the opportunity to participate in the JEN National Conference in early January (being held virtually this year), where Jazz Ensemble I has been selected for the first time in school history to perform in the JEN National Conference's JENerations Jazz Festival!!!

September & October 2020 - JEN Chapter Founding News and a Special Announcement!

The Jazz Education Network (JEN) Chapter had a successful recruitment period to start off the 2020-21 school year.  A total of 61 students are able to call themselves Inaugural and Founding members of the Pace High School JEN Chapter! Congratulations to all students who were accepted for this great opportunity!

Additionally, the 2020-21 JEN Chapter Officers were also officially elected:
President-  Caden Dale
Vice President-  Gian Marco Guadagnoli
Treasurer-  Anna Brennan
Secretary-  Grace Cavnar

The first General Membership JEN Chapter meeting was on Monday September 21st, & the Induction Ceremony was on Monday October 5th.  All new members were required to attend.

In Jazz Ensemble news, JE1 was originally scheduled to be preparing to record in early November for entry into the National Swing Central Jazz Competition & December for Essentially Ellington National Jazz Competition.  Unfortunately, those competitions have been postponed, due to ongoing circumstances.  However, there's no reason to dwell in the things you can't control, and so instead, Jazz Ensemble 1 is excited to announce that this December & January, they will be recording their first ever Jazz Album!!!

This Album will be available to the public!  More details on this exciting project will be coming soon!

August 2020 - Jazz Camp Success, Inaugural JEN Chapter Information, & Back To School (Finally!)

Jazz Camp was a HUGE success during the last week of July.  A big thank you goes to Garrett Faccone, Jose Fabio Rojas, Stephen Justice & Steve Picataggio for all of their help and information given during their masterclasses, which were presented "live" from their homes in various parts of the country.  Over the course of the week, all of the students in attendance received a wealth of Jazz knowledge, which they will be able to apply throughout the upcoming school year. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!!

The Inaugural Pace High School Jazz Education Network (JEN) Chapter is being founded for this upcoming school year.  Students in attendance for the end of Jazz Camp were given information on this exciting opportunity.  The JEN Chapter includes opportunities for students in the Band and Choir program to be not only inaugural JEN Chapter members, but to be inaugural JEN Officers as well!
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Additionally, students do not need to be currently enrolled in a Jazz Ensemble class in order to become an inaugural JEN Chapter member! 

If you were not present at Jazz Camp to receive this info, please visit the Jazz Ensembles & Combo page on this website.  There is a link to the JEN Chapter handout & application, including due dates for prospective Officer candidacy & membership acceptance!

​Members of Jazz Ensemble I had a virtual meeting on Wednesday August 5th, and Wednesday August 12th.  Information on this was emailed out to the members of JE1.

Members of Jazz Ensemble II do not have any scheduled events until the start of the school year.
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We have a lot of new and exciting events planned for the entire Jazz program this upcoming school year, and we are excited to be able to play Jazz together again!!!

July 2020 - Jazz Camp, Jazz Education Network Chapter Founding News & Jazz at Lincoln Center's Summer Jazz Academy

Thank you to all band members who auditioned for the Jazz ensemble class!  Jazz Ensemble Rosters are found on the home page.  All Jazz Ensemble class members are expected to attend our first Jazz event of the school year- Jazz Camp!

​Jazz Camp is taking place July 27-31 from 2-4p each day in the band room. These events are for ANY member of the band program (winds, percussion, or guard) with an interest in Jazz music!  Students will learn all about Jazz music, and will have "live" masterclasses with professional Jazz musicians from all over the country!

Attendees of Jazz Camp will be given the opportunity to learn about becoming founding members of the Pace High School Jazz Education Network (JEN) Chapter, as well as Student members of Jazz Pensacola!  The Pace High School JEN Chapter is a brand new Jazz-specific organization for students, similar to Tri-M, which encourages Jazz outreach in the community.

For more information, including the bios of our guest clinicians, please see HERE!

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In addition, everyone is encouraged to sign up for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Summer Jazz Academy:  Here's a brief description of their event:

"Summer Jazz Academy is a free, interactive, 2-week virtual program designed and instructed by members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, as well as some of the world’s most renowned Jazz artists, including drummer Jeff Hamilton, pianist Eric Reed, and bassist Rodney Whitaker. Participants will attend virtual classes in all aspects of Jazz pedagogy and advanced Jazz performance. Jazz enthusiasts, musicians, and students of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Deepen your Jazz knowledge, develop your skills, and strengthen your performance while building a community of peers"  (Jazz at Lincoln Center, 2020).

The Summer Jazz Academy runs from July 20th thru August 1st.  Attendees are welcome to attend as many class offerings as they choose.  Registration is FREE, and is required to participate.

More information on Jazz at Lincoln Center's Summer Jazz Academy, including the daily class schedule and descriptions of their masterclasses, can be found here:  https://jazzatlincolncenter.squarespace.com/sja


June 2020 - New Member Auditions & Jazz Camp Week

For all NEW students, or returning Pace students who did not complete a Flipgrid audition in May and now wish to audition for Jazz, we will be having Jazz auditions on Friday July 10th from 2-4pm. 
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*Percussion will complete their audition at the beginning of their 6-8p rehearsal.

Note: When students have completed their audition, they are then free to leave, and do not need to stay the entire audition timeslot.

Specific Jazz audition requirements can be found HERE, as well as in the New Students video series, linked on our New Students page.

New for the 2020-21 school year, students who are placed into a Jazz ensemble class will need to attend Jazz Camp, a week-long Jazz focused preparation for the upcoming school year, including "live" masterclasses and in-depth training from Jazz musicians located all across the country. 

​Students who are not enrolled in the Jazz ensemble class, but wish to learn about Jazz, are also welcomed and encouraged to attend Jazz Camp!

Jazz Camp is scheduled to take place on July 27-31 from 2p-4p each day in the band room.

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Videos of WHY to Join Jazz Band!!!


May 2020 - Jazz Audition Information for 2020-21!!!

For all current Pace Band members, the audition process for Jazz Ensemble placement will take place
​entirely on Flipgrid  during the month of May, regardless if the student was in Jazz last year or not.


The Flipgrid code is pacejazzaudition
Your Student ID is the same used for other Flipgrids  (ex:TPT###)
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​Please log onto the Jazz Auditions Flipgrid for more information.
The audition deadline for current Pace Band members is Friday May 22nd!

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Congratulations to The 2020 Louis Armstrong Jazz Award Recipient- Sam Shaner

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April 2020 - Jazz Appreciation Month!

Do you find yourself bored at home?  Want something exciting to do/watch that's Jazz related?  You're in luck!  April is Jazz Appreciation Month!

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), regarded as one of the best Jazz Ensembles in the world, has put together a FREE daily, educational Jazz series.  They are live streaming concerts, jam sessions, one-on-one talks, and more every single day!  Some of these include the opportunity to interact with some of the best Jazz musicians in the world, LIVE in real time!

Check out the links below for more information!

jazzatlincolncenter.squarespace.com

nafme.org/my-classroom/jazz-appreciation-month/
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February 2020 - Jazz MPA Month

Jazz Ensemble I is preparing for the Florida Bandmasters Association's Jazz Music Performance Assessment (Jazz MPA).  This is a required performance and assessment of Jazz Ensemble I, and students around the state of Florida prepare for this every year.

Jazz MPA is being held at Pensacola State College's Ashmore Auditorium on February 21st, 2020. 

16 Middle School and High School Jazz Ensembles from throughout the District will be attending.  

Jazz Ensemble I performs at 5:15pm, and the assessment/performance is free to attend!  Please come out and support the students!


Upcoming After School Rehearsals:

​Thursday February 6:    3:30-4:30p  RHYTHM SECTION Only
Thursday February 13:  3:45-4:45p FULL Rehearsal
Thursday February 20:  3:30-5:00p FULL Rehearsal

(Friday February 21 is Jazz MPA)

All of these dates and times are also found on the CHARMS calendar.

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Congratulations to Jazz Ensemble I on earning 2nd place at Best of the West 2020 Jazz Competition!!!


January 2020 - Exciting and Busy Month!

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Please remember that Winter Break Flipgrid assignments are due by January 4, 2020!!!


Jazz Ensemble I will be having 3 recording sessions for entry into the Essentially Ellington national Jazz competition.  Students in this ensemble have been preparing this music since August, and this is the culmination of 5 months of hard work!!!

All recording sessions will be at Pace Assembly of God - "The Loft" (Student Life Building).

These recording sessions are MANDATORY for all members of Jazz Ensemble I.  

The dates/times are:

Monday  January 6:     5p-8p
Monday  January 13:   5p-8p
Monday  January 20:   5p-8p


Any students with conflicts need to email the director ASAP at pacehsbands@gmail.com 


Additionally, Jazz Ensemble I will be competing at the 1st Best of the West Jazz Competition at Harborwalk Village, in Destin, FL.  This event is on Saturday, January 18, 2020.  All members need to find their own transportation to the event, and need to meet in Destin by 1pm.  

Pace Jazz Ensemble I performs at 2:20pm, and the full schedule for all 8 Jazz Ensembles can be found HERE.  Please come out and support the Jazz students in their first ever competition against bands from all over the panhandle!!!


Upcoming After School Rehearsals:

Tuesday   January 14:    3:30-5:00p  FULL Rehearsal
Thursday January 16:    3:30-4:30p  FULL Rehearsal

(Saturday January 18 is Best of the West Jazz Competition)

Thursday January 23:    3:30-4:30p  BRASS Only
Thursday January 30:    3:30-4:30p  WOODWINDS Only
Thursday February 6:    3:30-4:30p  RHYTHM SECTION Only
Thursday February 13:  3:45-4:45p FULL Rehearsal
Thursday February 20:  3:30-5:00p FULL Rehearsal

(Friday February 21 is Jazz MPA)

All of these dates and times are also found on the CHARMS calendar.

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Pace High School
4065 Norris Road
Pace, FL 32571