JAS District 8 Honor Jazz Band Returns to Carbondale
Free concert on Saturday, Feb. 8 to feature 80 of the most talented
youth jazz musicians from across the Western Slope
The Jazz Aspen Snowmass District 8 Honor Jazz program returns to Carbondale Middle School this Feb. 7-8 featuring over students representing 16 different Middle and High Schools from across the Western Slope. The students, who were selected through a nomination and audition process, will spend an intensive two days in workshops and sectionals, concluding with a free public performance at Carbondale Middle School on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 5-7pm featuring the students performing in four separate ensembles. In addition to JAS In-School faculty members, the ensembles will be led by Coal Ridge High School Band Director Abby Schuelke, Basalt Middle and High School Band Director Chance Davis, Denver based jazz musician and faculty member at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, Annie Booth and Colorado Mesa State University Professor Sean Flanigan.
High Schools represented include Aspen, Roaring Fork, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Coal Ridge, Rifle, Moffat, Summit, Steamboat Springs, Sorocco and Battle Mountain. Middle Schools include Aspen, Carbondale, Riverview and Grand Valley.
“We are looking forward to an amazing weekend of music this year,” said JAS COO Andrea Beard. “This will be the largest group of students to perform in our annual Honor Jazz program since the schools were closed in 2020 due to COVID. After seeing an initial decline in music participation following COVID, we are thrilled to have participation back to pre-pandemic numbers.”
For more information on the District 8 Honor Jazz program and other JAS In-Schools Initiatives visit us here.