PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Though it sounded like a giant pep rally, the spotlight wasn’t on local athletes last Wednesday night, but rather the talented young musicians who participated in the annual Aroostook County Instrumental Jazz Festival.
The festival was held at the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium, with middle and high school jazz bands that received a rating of 75 or higher advancing to this month’s state competition.
Jazz bands participating in the local festival included the Houlton High School Jazz Ensemble, MSSM Jazz Band, Houlton Junior High Jazz Band, Fort Fairfield Jazz COMBO, Fort Kent Middle School Jazz Band, Fort Fairfield Jazz Band, Caribou Middle School Jazz Band, Presque Isle Middle School Jazz Band, Caribou High School Jazz COMBO, Presque Isle High School Jazz Band, and the Caribou High School Jazz Band.
Judge Sherri Calhoun, vocal music instructor at SAD 45, said she was looking for a number of factors when evaluating groups.
“I look for selections that are good teaching tools … that teach a variety of styles in the jazz idiom,” she said. “I look for an ensemble tone that is well balanced and you’re inner voices are being heard, intonation, articulation that is indicative of the jazz style, the space between the notes, and a rhythm section that lays down real good times.
“In different groups we heard different strengths,” said Calhoun, “and then we heard groups that have work to do, which is why they’re here. They’re here to learn.”
Judge Larry Jenkins, instrumental music instructor at SAD 45, agreed that the jazz festival is a good way for the students to receive honest feedback.
“They’re here to have someone like us – who don’t hear them every week like their directors do – listen for things the directors might not hear,” he said. “It’s a chance for somebody who is outside of their realm of hearing those kids and hear them purely objectively.
“We try to identify their strengths and weaknesses,” said Jenkins, “and give them something constructive to work with.”
The first group began performing at 3:45 p.m., while the last jazz band took the stage at 8:25 p.m. Each group performed in 20-minute blocks, and played three different jazz-related songs.
Calhoun said it’s nice to hear the improvements the groups make from year to year.
“There was one school that had a lot of growth since I last heard them,” she said. “If you’re seeing growth, that’s more important than seeing perfection.”
Seventh-grader Lucas Cyr, who plays the trombone with the Presque Isle Middle School Jazz Band, said he’s excited about advancing to the state competition in Westbrook.
“I think it’s good that we qualified,” he said. “I was nervous at first that we wouldn’t get a good rating, but we did.”
Cyr has been playing the trombone since the fifth-grade.
“When we were getting our instruments, I went ‘Wow, I want to do that,’ so I picked the trombone and it came out good. I still get nervous, but it’s fun playing. I like it.”
Evan Waddell, who is also in the seventh-grade, plays the trumpet in the PIMS Jazz Band.
“I’ve been in band since the fifth-grade, and I really like it,” said Waddell. “My Mom used to play the trumpet, so I wanted to keep that in the family.”
Waddell said he, too, gets a little nervous before a competition.
“I’m nervous when we first get out there,” he said, “but once you get going, it’s easy. It feels pretty good knowing that we’re going to the state competition. I’m excited.”
Pat Bragdon, band/vocal music instructor at Presque Isle Middle School, said this year’s festival went very well.
“Things went great,” he said. “People were fine and everything ran very smoothly.”
This was the second consecutive year the festival was held at PIMS.
“Hopefully we can host it again next year,” said Bragdon. “That will probably be decided at the spring meeting of the area music teachers. We have a good venue, it’s comfortable, convenient and Presque Isle is in a central location. Both Houlton and Fort Kent only have to travel an hour.”
The high school state jazz festival will be held March 16-17 at Stearns High School, while the middle school competition will be held March 24 in Westbrook.
