CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Laramie County Community College is hosting the annual All-State Jazz Concert next month.
That’s according to a release from LCCC, which states that Wyoming’s most talented, budding jazz musicians will gather at the college for two days of rehearsals and performances Jan. 6–7. The All-State Jazz Concert will happen at 3 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium, located on the LCCC campus. It will feature performances from the Vocal Jazz Group and two jazz bands.
“Selected through a competitive audition process, Wyoming’s top high school jazz musicians will rehearse under the guidance of distinguished clinicians before showcasing their skills in the final concert,” the release states. “The event is organized by the Wyoming Jazz Educators (WJE), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing jazz education statewide. Steve Oakley, WJE president and Campbell County High School director of bands, said the All-State Jazz ensembles are particularly prestigious, with limited spots making selection a significant achievement.”
Oakley said that the technical challenges of jazz are extraordinary, but the best part about these kinds of things is hearing how each student interprets the music.
“The way I think of it is my jazz band is like my varsity-level players,” he said. “The cool thing about jazz is that it’s so heavily based on improvisation. Depending on who you’re playing with, you’ll play it differently almost every time. The music is more like suggestions — it’s how it should be, but the details are up to you to figure out on your own.”
Oakley said that the experience of playing this type of music builds confidence in students, as they learn to trust themselves and their abilities in a challenging, fast-paced environment. He said that whether these students continue to pursue music in college, in community ensembles or even in their own bands, playing at the jazz festival helps them grow as performers.
“It’s about giving them the tools and confidence to take jazz with them wherever they go,” Oakley said. “Whether they’re joining a group or putting together their own band, they’ll know what it takes to make it happen.”
The jazz festival will feature a slew of distinguished ensemble directors, including Marion Powers, who is described as “a renowned vocalist and educator from the University of Northern Colorado.” She will lead the Vocal Jazz Group. Dr. Tom Walsh is a professional saxophonist and professor at Indiana University. Dr. Frank Cook is LCCC’s Director of Bands, and an experienced jazz educator and performer in his own right. Both men will direct the jazz bands.
For more information about the All-State Jazz Festival, visit lccc.wy.edu/events or wyojazz.org.
