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SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. Student musicians will hope to hit a high note in judges' minds on Thursday as they compete in the ninth annual JazzFest at Sleepy Hollow High School.
Area high school jazz ensembles will gather to compete against each other for the prize of performing with well-known jazz musicians and educators in a public concert that night. The JazzFest is sponsored by a grant from the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns.
The event is an educational opportunity for area high school jazz ensembles, who will perform during the day before three well-known jazz musicians/educators: Jon Gordon, Todd Coolman and Pete McGuinness, the school district said on its website. In the evening the judges act as guest soloists, performing along with the three top-rated bands.
A public concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
High school musicians, including Sleepy Hollow, Mamaroneck, Ardsley, Monroe-Woodbury and Lakeland, will compete for several awards: best Latin selection, best swing, best ballad, outstanding soloists, best brass section, best saxophone section and best rhythm section.
Judges will provide feedback and guidance to ensembles after they perform three pieces.
Sleepy Hollow art students are also taking part in the Jazz Fest. More than 100 students contributed digital art for a contest to design the event's promotional graphics. Students got inspired by studying and listening to jazz, watching Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns, and looking at visual artists influenced by the music genre.
High school student Seung Park took home the prize for poster design. Dayla Edber's T-shirt design was selected in the contest. Runner-ups included students Sarah Alfonso and Jack Titcomb.
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