OPJH Jazz Band, 2005 Year End Festivities

The last month of the 2004/2005 school year was, to say the least, busy.  To tell it like it was, it was a whirlwind!  We had our year end concert, our 8th grade spring trip, this year to Universal Studios Orlando, and our year end banquet.  On top of that, three of our nine guest clinicians paid us visit, and the jazz band had several gigs. 

8th Grade Spring trip to Universal Studios

On May 14th, both, the OPJH symphonic and jazz bands went to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida to participate in the "Music in the Parks" festival.  Both performed for ratings before festival adjudicators.  After their performances, the kids got to be kids and do what they do best... have fun in the park.

The schedule was for the symphonic band to perform, with the jazz band performing immediately afterward.  Although the important part of the trip was about music education, in an ironic twist of fate, I got no pictures of either band's performance.  However, the symphonic band performed and were awarded a score of "Excellent" for their efforts.  The jazz band received a score of "Superior."  Later that day at the awards ceremony, the whole band got the "Citizenship" award, the "Esprit de Corps" spirit award, and the OPJH Jazz Band received "Best in Category" for their outstanding performance!!!

Before the trip down, all of the kids were divvied up and assigned chaperones.  My nephew Jason was able to get some time away from work and act as one of us "responsible" types.  Our two groups (mine and Jason's) were mostly young men from the jazz band, and all "leaders" of sorts.  I had Eric, Phillip, Tyler, and Chris.  Jason had Adam, Doug, Marc, and Daniel.  Teasing the boys, Mr. Rankin said he would be "thinking of and praying for us," meaning Jason and me. 

Year End Concert

On May 16th, the bands had their final performance of the year; an outdoor concert.  The Beginning, Concert, Symphonic bands performed three pieces each and all three bands had really good performances.  There must have been close to 400 friends and family in attendance to see the performances and cheering them on.  It was great.  Several of the Symphonic band members even put on a show for us (see the pics below).

The big performance of the evening was the Jazz Band with guest performer Mr. Dave Steinmeyer.  They played several pieces and treated it like any of the other "gigs" they had played throughout the year.  Actually, they played until it got dark and couldn't see their music any more. 

The highlight for me was as a band Dad was "Lester Leaps In."  Originally popularized by 1940's jazz legend Charlie Parker, it was revitalized by Clint Eastwood's movie "Bird" which based on Charlie Parker's life.  In the version performed by the OPJH Jazz Band at the year end concert, Eric played 16 bars of a 32 bar improvised solo.  Both players had no sheet music, just what was in their hearts and souls.  According to Mr. Steinmeyer, Eric did a superb job and both had a good time performing with the other.

8th Grade Year End Banquet

The eighth grade banquet was Mr. Rankin's chance to say thanks; thanks to the kids for putting out so much effort, thanks to the parents for all of their support, etc.  And, it was our chance to say thanks to Mr. Rankin; thanks for the extra hours, thanks for all you had to put up with, thanks for giving our kids the gift of music!

Mr. Rankin was given an engraved iPod... about a week after the banquet, he told me he had "loaded it up."  In turn, Mr. Rankin gave out several awards.  He recognized some of the troopers; the eighth graders that stayed with the Concert Band to bring the seventh graders along.  He recognized several in the Symphonic Band for various achievements.  Unfortunately, my camera battery was dying and I have virtually no pictures of the night's events, and I don't remember the specific achievements everyone got.  There was one award though...

"Jazz Musician of the Year... Eric Rogers!!!"  Fact is, when it was announced, my jaw dropped.  And mine wasn't the only one either... Eric had to pick his up a little too.  Mr. Rankin went on to tell about how Eric had progressed throughout the year.  I don't think I could have been any more proud of him as I was that moment.

If anyone has any pictures of from the banquet, please send them to me and I'll post them.