Agoura High musicians jazzed about New York

Band scores high at (Duke) Ellington competition



BIG APPLE JAM—The Agoura High School jazz band takes a break from their performances at the Essentially Ellington music competition earlier this month in New York City. Director Chad Bloom is pictured at right.

BIG APPLE JAM—The Agoura High School jazz band takes a break from their performances at the Essentially Ellington music competition earlier this month in New York City. Director Chad Bloom is pictured at right.

Agoura High School’s Studio Jazz group wowed the judges at the prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival in New York City earlier this month.

Agoura High School was one of 15 nationwide finalists to compete and perform in the elite jazz event, which took place at the Jazz at Lincoln Center venue May 7 to 9.

According to band director Chad Bloom, the Studio Jazz group’s trombone section earned “outstanding” honors. The trombone players are Alex Graden, Sarah McKagen, Ariana Maronde, Julia Harnoy and Jeremy Zacuto.

Student John Miller claimed double honors for an outstanding clarinet solo and outstanding alto sax solo. Chris Palmer was honored as an outstanding bass player.

The Essentially Ellington competition and festi- val offers students the chance to participate in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances at the Jazz at Lincoln Center venue.

An awards ceremony was held on May 9 with a performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

“On behalf of the Jazz at Lincoln Center board and staff, congratulations to this year’s finalist bands,” said Todd Stoll, vice president of education at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“Our annual May event is much more ‘celebration’ than ‘competition,’ particularly during this landmark 20th anniversary year. The combination of the greatest American composers/ arrangers with some of our most committed and talented young people and their educators is a triumph for our culture,” Stoll said.

Agoura had the only high school jazz band from California to perform at the event.

The Studio Jazz band also won accolades at the Swing Central jazz festival competition in Savannah, Ga. in late March. The 24-member band captured first place for the fourth consecutive year of the competition, which included a $5,000 prize for the school’s music program.


TIGHT—AHS Studio Jazz Band member John Miller performs a sax solo as Chad Bloom, right, directs.

TIGHT—AHS Studio Jazz Band member John Miller performs a sax solo as Chad Bloom, right, directs.

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