The Mercer Island High School Jazz Ensemble visited the University of Montana from March 13 to March 15 to play at their Jazz Festival on campus.
The University of Montana presented its 45th annual Buddy DeFranco Festival, which brings together the best jazz musicians from the area’s middle schools, high schools and colleges with their jazz combinations and bands.
“We listened to over 45 jazz bands play, some alumni play, the University of Montana’s own jazz band play, which included [former band director] Mr. Krieger,” junior Misha Pan said.
During the field trip, students had the opportunity to learn from leading jazz instructors around the country and engage in social activities.
“There were a whole bunch of clinics and learning opportunities, which is a big reason we chose [to perform at Buddy DeFranco],” band director David Bentley said. “Those were all really great. Our [students] got to interface and have sessions with all kinds of the top jazz educators from all over the country. So that was really great, both in sectional rehearsals and then working on jazz improvisation.”
Numerous schools received awards at the festival, including Sentinel High School, which received the Fred Nelson trumpet prize. Central High School also obtained the Outstanding Rhythm Section award. MIHS also received multiple awards.
“We got the best saxophone section, and they got to go play up at the end with other bands, with [the] other best sections,” Pan said. “And then we also had outstanding soloists, there were three of them, and two of them were from Jazz One.”
The students who won the Featured and Outstanding Soloists award were: junior Denis Balatov, junior Alanna Larson, and senior Elliot Yaroslavsky.
“I was not expecting to be the recipient of that award,” Yaroslavsky said. “It felt a little bit surreal. I was probably just surprised, maybe a little confused.”
Despite the early wake-up call on day one of the performance, the Jazz Ensemble enjoyed the music they performed. Their efforts were rewarded when the band’s students received awards and, at the very least, had a great time over the weekend.
“How proud I am of them. I mean, I just thought it was incredible,” Bentley said. “[Proud] of how they played, proud of how they interacted with the clinicians, and proud of how they conducted themselves.”
