As part of the Festival, the 2015 Wisconsin Conservatory Jazz Competition will include spots for up to 8 middle school ensembles and 12 high school ensembles from schools located in the Midwest to participate in a user-friendly and educational performance/clinic format that will take place in the McIntosh|Goodrich Mansion, home of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Students and directors will have the opportunity to listen and learn from, as well as collaborate with, other professional and school musicians. Each ensemble will be given the opportunity to shine, showing off the hard work that they have put in throughout the school year, and to work with a clinician after their performance.
The Festival that surrounds the Competition will include the Thursday evening performance of WE SIX at the McIntosh|Goodrich Mansion; the Friday evening performance by Grammy Award winners PHIL WOODS and BRIAN LYNCH in performance with WE SIX in the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts; as well as breakout sessions on improvisation, section work, jazz styles and much more!
Competition will take place on Friday, March 20th, 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 21st, 8:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m. Each ensemble will have a maximum of 45 minutes on stage to set-up, perform, work with the clinician, break down and exit the stage. Ensembles of ten or more will be considered a band, and ensembles of less than ten will be considered a combo. Band Directors will create their own jazz oriented programs of three compositions, using genres such as traditional, swing, big band, bebop, straight ahead, Latin or fusion jazz. At least 2 of the 3 selections must offer contrasting styles, as well as tempo and dynamic variations. Performances will be heard by a panel of judges and a clinician. Immediately following each performance, the clinician will conduct a clinic to provide immediate feedback on the ensemble’s performance.
Each participating school will be given up to 10 tickets for the Friday, March 20 performance as a bonus for their competition participation. Additional tickets for participants may be purchased at $10 each.
General admission tickets are available for $30 for adults and $15 for students through the Marcus Center box office at 414-273-7306 or www.marcuscenter.org. (Students must purchase tickets in person, student ID is required.)
MKE Jazz Vision 