New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The GRAMMY Foundation has selected 32 talented high school students from across the United States have been selected for the 2016 GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session. Their selection launches them into the spotlight surrounding the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards, and provides them with opportunities to perform for some of music's biggest names. The students, representing 29 cities and 15 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 associate choral director Susanna Wegner of Kansas City, Mo. Two former GRAMMY Camp students will be joining as members of the GRAMMY in the Schools Media Team to document the GRAMMY Week experience for the GRAMMY Foundation's social media platforms.
"Each year, GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session brings together some of the most gifted jazz singers and instrumentalists and gives them an extraordinary musical experience during GRAMMY Week," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy. "These talented young people demonstrate their gifts by making music with their peers and performing with GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists at a range of events. We're especially proud that many of them actually go on to have successful careers in our music industry."
From Feb. 12-14, courtesy of Capitol Studios & Mastering, the young musicians will record an album (GRAMMY Jazz 24) at the legendary facility in Hollywood, Calif. Over the years, noted members of The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing have worked with the ensembles during the recording process. Again this year, multi-GRAMMY-winning engineer and Producers & Engineers Wing member Al Schmitt will be mixing the project.
In addition, the selected students will perform at various GRAMMY Week events, including — for the seventh year — an appearance at GRAMMY In The Schools Live! — A Celebration Of
Music & Education sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund. This special event, which is open to the public, will showcase the selectees, along with special guest artists, on Feb. 11, 2016, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The group will offer additional public performances with special guest artists at Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment in Seal Beach, Calif., and Spaghettini & the
Dave Koz Lounge in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 10 and Feb. 12, respectively. GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session members will also attend the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 15 as guests of The Recording Academy and will perform at the GRAMMY Celebration after-party.
GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session 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 2016 GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session members are listed by each student's instrument, role or voice:
Band
Name
City
State
School
Part
Matt
Richards
Walnut Creek
Calif.
Las Lomas High School
Alto Sax 1
Nathan
Farrell
Montclair
N.J.
Montclair High School
Alto Sax 2
Jason
Chrisman
Weaverville
N.C.
North Buncombe High School
Tenor Sax
Morgan
Guerin
Atlanta
Ga.
Westlake High School
Tenor Sax
Ben
Fitzpatrick
Bethel
Conn.
Bethel High School
Bari Sax
Jonah
Moss
Walnut Creek
Calif.
Northgate High School
Trumpet Lead
Evan
Abounassar
Yorba Linda
Calif.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Trumpet Jazz
Alex
Melnychuck
Tucson
Ariz.
Salpointe Catholic High School
Trumpet 3
Geoffrey
Gallante
Alexandria
Va.
West Potomac High School
Trumpet 4
Carlos
Ramos
Downey
Calif.
Downey High School
Trumpet 5
Remee
Ashley
Berkeley
Calif.
Berkeley High School
Trombone 1
Jack
Kotze
Frankfort
Ill.
Lincoln-Way North High School
Trombone 2
Jasim
Perales
Oakland
Calif.
Oakland School for the Arts
Trombone 3
Ethan
Santos
Fresno
Calif.
Buchanan High School
Bass Trombone
Sam
Towse
Huntington
N.Y.
Friends Academy
Piano
Abeed
Janjua
Pembroke Pines
Fla.
Dillard High School
Bass
Joseph
Bell
Princeton
N.J.
Princeton High School
Guitar
Julius
Rodriguez
White Plains
N.Y.
The Masters School
Drums
Choir
Sharada
Shashidhar
Painted Post
N.Y.
Corning-Painted Post High School
Soprano
Abigail
Berry
Burbank
Calif.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Soprano
Kara
Walton
La Vista
Neb.
Papillion La Vista High School
Alto
Makele
Clemmons
Chicago
Ill.
Chicago High School for the Arts
Alto
Jack
VanGorden
Dallas
Texas
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Tenor
Jack
O'Connor
Dallas
Texas
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Tenor
Daniel
Barbrack
New York
N.Y.
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts
Bass
Evan
Wright
Temple City
Calif.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Bass
Combo
Jamael
Dean
Redondo Beach
Calif.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Piano
Maxwell
Schwartz
Berkeley
Calif.
Berkeley High School
Bass
Jordan
Reifkind
Los Angeles
Calif.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Guitar
Zachary
Vaughen
Lancaster
Pa.
Manheim Township High School
Drums
Anthony
Richard Jr.
Gretna
La.
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
Media Team
Alejandra
Matheu-Rios
Henderson
Nev.
College Southern Nevada High School
Media Team
