(PR) 30 talented high school students from across the United States have been selected for positions in the 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensembles. Their selection launches them into the spotlight surrounding the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, and provides them with unparalleled opportunities to perform in front of some of music's biggest names. Since 1993, the GRAMMY Foundation has provided students with this extraordinary musical experience. The students, representing 30 cities and 12 states, will travel to Los Angeles for a weeklong musical adventure under the direction of Justin DiCioccio of the Manhattan School of Music, Dr. Ron McCurdy of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and Dr. Leila Heil of Colorado State University. Many past members of the Grammy Jazz Ensembles go on to enjoy thriving careers as jazz musicians, including several past selectees who are leading bands, including Peter Cincotti (2001), current GRAMMY Nominee for Best Instrumental Composition Gerald Clayton (2002), Grace Kelly (2008), and Aaron Parks (2000).
"Our Grammy Jazz Ensembles program is a hallmark of the Grammy Foundation, and it is truly unique in that it brings together remarkable high school vocalists and instrumentalists from across the country to create a jazz choir, combo and band in the span of a little over a week," said Grammy Foundation and Recording Academyฎ President/CEO Neil Portnow. "It's a highlight of Grammy Week to experience the talent, dedication and excitement of our Grammy Jazz Ensembles members, and it is inspiring to hear the seamless musicality with which these young artists play with their peers as well as with Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning artists. The Grammy Jazz Ensembles program really brings to life the Grammy Foundation's mission of fostering the next generation of music and its makers."
The Ensembles will perform at various Grammy Week events including for the second year an appearance at Grammy In The Schools Live! A Celebration of Music & Education, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. This special evening, which is open to the public, will showcase the Ensembles, along with student alumni from Grammy Camp and Grammy Signature Schools, with special guest artists on Feb. 9, 2011, at USC in the Los Angeles Grand Ballroom. The Ensembles will offer another public performance at Spaghettini's Italian Grill & Jazz Club with a special guest artist on Feb. 10.
The Ensembles will again record at the legendary Capitol Studios & Mastering in Hollywood, Calif., courtesy of the EMI Music Group. Grammy Jazz Ensembles CDs from 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 are available for purchase at online music outlets such as Amazon, iTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody.
As a grand finale, the Ensembles will attend the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 13 as guests of The Recording Academy and will perform at the Grammy Celebrationฎ after-party.
The Grammy Jazz Ensembles selectees are eligible for more than $2 million in college scholarships made possible through the Grammy Foundation's college partners: Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and USC Thornton School of Music. In addition, each selectee's school will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company.
The 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensembles are listed by each student's name, hometown, school, and instrument or voice:
GRAMMY Jazz Choir
Emma Davis, West Linn, Ore., West Linn High School, Soprano
Angelea Taylor, Pittsburgh, Pa., High School for the Creative & Performing Arts, Soprano
Hope Flores, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Alto
Kaia Lagoni, Fort Collins, Colo., Rocky Mountain High School Alto
Taylor Daniel, Germantown, Tenn., Briarcrest Christian School, Tenor
Daniel Stanfill, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa High School, Tenor
Timothy Nelson, Bothell, Wash., Bothell High School, Bass
Timothy Ovia, Cincinnati, Finneytown High School, Bass
GRAMMY Jazz Combo
William Bridges, Lauderhill, Fla., North Broward Preparatory School, Alto Sax
David James, Del Mar, Calif., Canyon Crest Academy, Drums
Antonio Madruga, Pembroke Pines, Fla., New World School of the Arts, Piano
Zachary Ostroff, Belvedere, Calif., The Branson School, Bass
Gabe Schnider, Accord, N.Y., Poughkeepsie Day School, Guitar
GRAMMY Jazz Band
Patrick Bartley, Coral Springs, Fla., Dillard High School of the Arts, Alto Sax 1
Tom Kelley, Canton, Conn., Canton High School, Alto Sax 2
Xavier Del Castillo, Carnation, Wash., Roosevelt High School, Tenor Sax
Ben Solomon, Glencoe, Ill., New Trier High School, Tenor Sax
David Leon, Miami, New World School of the Arts, Bari Sax
Christian Marrero, Boynton Beach, Fla., Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Trumpet Lead
Enrique Sanchez, Kissimmee, Fla., Osceola County School of the Arts, Trumpet Lead
Adam O'Farrill, Brooklyn, N.Y., Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Arts, Trumpet Jazz
Josh Shpak, Walnut Creek, Calif., Northgate High School, Trumpet 4
St. Clair Simmons III, Dover, Pa., Dover Area High School, Trombone 1
Cory Boris, Kingston, N.Y., Kingston Senior High School, Trombone 2
Kyle Molitor, Tigard, Ore., Tigard High School, Trombone 3
Chris Palowitch, Pleasanton, Calif., Amador Valley High School, Bass Trombone
Steven Gordon, Santa Monica, Calif., Santa Monica High School, Piano
Daryl Johns, Englewood, N.J., Dwight-Englewood School, Bass
Aaron Shapiro, Highland Park, Ill., Highland Park High School, Guitar
Evan Sherman, Short Hills, N.J., Millburn High School, Drums
