Normally these competitions start in the early afternoon and continue into the evening. Students are judged by three professional musicians who listen to each group's performance and award scores accordingly. To aid the students in their musical growth, the judges provide comments and suggestions for improvement on paper and audio tape.
This year the WPI Jazz Groups, made up of the Stage Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Workshop, have been asked to host the International Association of Jazz Educators' Jazz Combo and Choir Festival. WPI was chosen as the site for this year's festival because of its outstanding jazz music education. Students from 10-15 high schools all over Massachusetts will arrive to participate in this competition. Awards will be given to the three best groups in their respective categories. The jazz combo competition will take place in Spaulding Recital Hall in the basement of Alden Hall. The great hall of Alden will house the jazz choir competition.
One of the adjudicators for this festival will be pianist Jeff Colella. Immediately prior to the competition, Mr. Colella will be performing in a free concert at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester at noon that day. This performance is part of the Brown Bag concert series sponsored by local radio station WICN.
The high school jazz festival will take place on Wednesday, March 22 from 3PM-9PM in Alden Hall. This competition is open to the public. A small fee will be charged for admission. All those interested are encouraged to attend.