Gustavus Hosts Jazz Jamboree and Honor Choir Posted on March 3rd, 2020 by

The Björling Music Festival offers opportunities throughout the year for high school musicians to experience music at the collegiate level at Gustavus Adolphus College. This weekend Gustavus hosts two of the festival’s keystone events, the third annual Jazz Jamboree (March 6) and the second annual Gustavus Honor Choir (March 8-9). Other festival events throughout the year include the Gustavus Honor Band (November) and the Gustavus Concerto Competition for High School Musicians (concert March 28).

Gustavus Jazz Jamboree
Eleven high school jazz ensembles from throughout the region will gather to perform in Björling Recital Hall and work with Gustavus faculty and guest clinicians, as well as attend masterclasses with jazz professionals. This year, Gustavus is proud to celebrate 50 years of jazz at Gustavus with headlining artist faculty member Dave Stamps and his innovative MODx Ensemble.  

The festival will end with a concert featuring the Dave Stamps MODx Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. in Björling Recital Hall. The evening concert will be livestreamed and all events during the day (including that evening performance) are free and open to the public. For a detailed itinerary for the day please visit the Gustavus Jazz Jamboree website

Participating Ensembles:
Annandale High School – Lee Peterson, director
Cleveland Public School – Erik Hermanson, director
Eastview High School – Richard Berggren, director
Farmington High School – Erin Holmes and Bradley Mariska, directors
Hudson High School – Nick Syman, director
Jordan High School – Logan Burnside, director
Mankato West High School – Brady Krusemark, director
New London-Spicer High School – Nicholas Mason, director
Princeton High School – Jim Baxter, director
Rochester Lourdes High School – Nicole Skifton, director

Gustavus Honor Choir
This year marks the second annual Gustavus Honor Choir. Taking place March 8-9, more than 125 students from different high schools across the midwest will gather for choir rehearsals, masterclasses with faculty, and a finale performance in Christ Chapel with the Gustavus Choir. This year, the festival will also feature guest composer Dr. Joshua Shank, the youngest recipient of the Raymond W. Brock Composition Award by the American Choral Directors Association in 2002. 

The finale concert will take place March 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. The performance will also feature the Eagan High School Concert Choir under the direction of Jim Cox, in addition to the Gustavus Choir and the Festival Choir. The event will be livestreamed.

 

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