Santa Monica, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - The GRAMMY Foundation announced today that 30 talented high school students from across the United States have been selected for positions in the 2009 GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles. Their selection launches them into the spotlight surrounding the 51st 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 23 cities and 13 states, will travel to Los Angeles for a weeklong musical adventure under the direction of Justin DiCioccio of the Manhattan School of
Music and Dr. Ron McCurdy of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.
The Ensembles will perform at various GRAMMY Week events including public performances at Spaghettini's Italian Grill & Jazz Club on Feb. 2, 2009, and the Vic on Feb. 4. For the first time ever, the Ensembles will perform at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute on Feb. 6, which this year will honor Neil Diamond. As a grand finale, they will attend the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8 as guests of The Recording Academy and will perform at the GRAMMY Celebration After Party.
"The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program is unique in that it brings together exceptionally talented vocalists and instrumentalists from high schools across the country to form a jazz choir, combo and band," said GRAMMY Foundation and Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "These young people come to Los Angeles to play with their peers and GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists at a range of GRAMMY Week events. Many say it is one of the most powerful and influential opportunities ever and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
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, every GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program applicant and their high school will receive music product from MakeMusic Inc., including a 90-day subscription to SmartMusic, the complete music practice system by MakeMusic, Inc. Additionally, each selectee's school will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company.
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture - from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with The Recording Academy to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.
The 2009 GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles are listed by each student's name, hometown, school, and instrument or voice:
2009 GRAMMY Jazz Choir
McKenna Whisler - Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh CAPA High School - Soprano
Olivia Harris - Dallas - Booker T. Washington HSPVA - Soprano
Jazzmeia Horn - Dallas - Booker T. Washington HSPVA - Alto
Amanda Kunz - Renton, Wash. - Homeschooled - Alto
Taylor Daniel - Germantown, Tenn. - Germantown High School - Tenor
Andre Brown - Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh CAPA High School - Tenor
Michael Mayo - Van Nuys, Calif. - Los Angeles County High School for the Arts - Bass
Ben Lusher - Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - The Masters School - Bass
2009 GRAMMY Jazz Combo
Noah Kellman - Fayetteville, N.Y. - Manlius Pebble Hill High School - Piano
Kate Davis - West Linn, Ore. - West Linn High School - Bass
Armand Hirsch - New York - Trevor Day School - Guitar
Alex Nash - San Francisco - San Francisco School of the Arts - Drums
2009 GRAMMY Jazz Band
Aaron Johnson - Portland, Ore. - Homeschooled Alto - Sax
Braxton Cook - Silver Spring, Md. - Springbrook High School - Alto Sax
Sam Crowe - Denver - Denver School of the Arts - Tenor Sax 1
Matt Knoegel - Southington, Conn. - Southington High School - Tenor Sax 2
Leonardo Pellegrino - Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh CAPA High School - Bari Sax
William Aukstik - Lombard, Ill. - Benet Academy - Trumpet
Joshua Gawel - Douglassville, Pa. - Daniel Boone Area High School - Trumpet
Benny Benack - Pittsburgh - Upper St. Clair High School - Trumpet
Nick Frenay - Syracuse, N.Y. - Manlius Pebble Hill High School - Trumpet
Ivan Rosenberg - New York - Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts - Trumpet
Josh Holcomb - Woodhaven, N.Y. - Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts - Trombone 1
Tyler Ginsberg - Metairie, La. - New Orleans Center for Creative Arts - Trombone 2
Natalie Cressman - San Francisco - San Francisco School of the Arts - Trombone 3
Jacob Kraft - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. - Los Osos High School - Bass Trombone
Luke Celenza - Bedford, N.Y. - Fox Lane High School - Piano
Raviv Markowitz - Lexington, Mass. - Lexington High School - Bass
Alden Harris-McCoy - Portland, Ore. - Lincoln High School - Guitar
Ethan Kogan - Wilmette, Ill. - New Trier Township High School - Drums
Media Contacts:
Christina Cassidy/GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/[email protected]
Jaime Sarachit/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777/[email protected]
Heather Lewandoski/Rogers & Cowan/310.854.8147/[email protected]
