The Large Band at Celia Cruz Bronx Excessive Faculty of Music will compete within the thirtieth annual Basically Ellington competitors in Might.
Photograph courtesy Penelope Smetters-Jacono
The Large Band on the Celia Cruz Bronx Excessive Faculty of Music has been named one in all 30 finalists within the Basically Ellington Excessive Faculty Jazz Band Competitors & Competition and can carry out at Lincoln Heart in Might.
The annual competitors, now in its thirtieth yr, will carry collectively high highschool jazz ensembles from all around the United States, in addition to Spain, Japan and Australia.
This isn’t the Celia Cruz Large Band’s first time being honored within the high-level competitors. The band made the finals in 2020 however needed to take part nearly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this yr will mark the college’s first in-person look.
Forward of the competition, all of the finalist colleges are internet hosting visits by acclaimed musicians to assist encourage and put together the scholars for the large stage.
Grammy-winning trombonist, arranger, composer, and educator Francisco Torres met with the Celia Cruz college students on March 17 and labored with them for 4 hours on “bringing the music they’re playing to the next level,” stated band director Penelope Smetters-Jacono in an interview with the Bronx Instances.
Smetters-Jacono, who has led the Celia Cruz band program because it opened in 2003, stated her 20 Large Band college students have been working onerous all yr to qualify for Basically Ellington.
Given the excessive stage of competitors from throughout the U.S. and world wide, “Just to be chosen as a finalist is an honor,” she stated.
The scholars are rehearsing the traditional Ellington tunes “I Didn’t Know About You,” “The St. Louis Blues” and “What Am I Here For,” plus the lesser-known “Oclupaca,” from his album “Latin American Suite.”
Smetters-Jacono stated her teenage college students love the outdated jazz requirements. “Once they’re exposed to it, they find a deep love for it.”
Basically Ellington might be a chance for progress and studying, not simply competitors, she stated. “We’re honored to be part of this, and we’re really excited to share our music with everyone else on a stage with so many other excellent ensembles.”
This yr, because the competitors marks its thirtieth anniversary, this system was prolonged from three days to 5 to permit bands extra time to take part in competitions, jam periods, workshops, and rehearsals. The ultimate live performance and awards ceremony might be held Might 11 on the Metropolitan Opera Home.
