Seattle to host 2009 IAJE Annual Conference

Seattle to Host the
36th IAJE Annual Conference
Plan to Attend January 7 - 10, 2009

Excitement is already building for the 36th IAJE Annual Conference, which will be in Seattle, Washington, January 7 - 10, 2009. Recognized as the largest gathering of the global jazz community, upwards of 7,000 educators, musicians, record executives, exhibitors, media, and enthusiasts are expected to attend.

Conference Agenda
Education, teacher training and outreach will be firmly at the heart of the conference agenda that will also feature the world's most respected and influential jazz performing artists. With the variety of clinics, concerts, and a 60,000 square-foot music industry exposition with something for everyone, the 2009 IAJE conference program promises to be one of the strongest conferences yet.

Apply NOW to perform or present a clinic

The proposal deadline is April 10.

BCMEA Honour Jazz Band

The British Columbia Music Educators Association sponsors the Provincial Honour Jazz band each year, and this group of some of the finest high school jazz musicians in the province come together to rehearse over a total of five days, and then perform for the conference delegates and the public during the conference. This year the conference is being held in Langley on October 19th and 20th, 2007 at Langley Secondary School.

This outstanding group of student musicians, over the years has had a large number of its alumni become some of BC's finest jazz performers. The group has also had many exceptional guest directors including Fred Stride, Brad Turner, Don Clarke, Paul Read (University of Toronto), Denny Christianson (Humber College, Toronto), Neil Slater (University of North Texas), Gordon Foote (McGill University, Montreal) to name a few.

This year the band will be directed by Akira Sato, who is originally from Richmond. Akira is now a faculty member in Plano Texas at Southern Methodist University as well as at the University of North Texas in Denton just outside of Dallas. Akira, an outstanding trumpet player, is also known internationally for his compositions and arrangements. His music has been performed by the Maynard Ferguson All-Star Tribute Big Band, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Ambassadors, the Army Blues, and Bobby Shew to again name just a few.

The BC Honour Jazz Band will be performing at the Chandos/Pattison Theatre (10238 168th St. Surrey) on Friday night Oct. 19th, and will also be performing at the world famous Jazz Cellar (3611 West Broadway) in Vancouver on October 20th.

Tickets for the Friday night concert are available at the door ($15),

35th IAJE Annual Conference

Excitement is already building for the 35th IAJE Annual Conference, which will be in Toronto, Jan. 9 - 12, 2008.

The mission of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) is to assure the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education. With more than 10,000 members in 56 countries, IAJE is the leading authority and primary voice for the promotion of jazz through education and outreach. With more than 10,000 members in 56 countries, IAJE is the leading authority and primary voice for the promotion of jazz through education and outreach.

Apply NOW to perform or present a clinic.

The proposal deadline is April 10.

IAJE Canada has just launched its new website!

Please check it out to learn more about IAJE and opportunities for Canadian jazz musicians, composers, educators and supporters.

Apply now for SOCAN/IAJE Phil Nimmons Awards

SOCAN, the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), and IAJE Canada have joined together to celebrate the lifetime achievement of jazz great Phil Nimmons, creating two awards in his honour. A work of each award winner will be premiered at the annual IAJE Conference in Toronto, Jan. 9-12, 2008.

The Established Jazz Composer Award is for $7,500 (CDN), while the Emerging Jazz Composer Award (for a composer who hasn’t yet reached the age of 35 by Jan. 1, 2008) is in the amount of $3,500 (CDN).

Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2007. Past recipients of the SOCAN/IAJE Awards are not eligible. Award honourees will be notified by June 1, 2007.

Click here for more information.

A Great Envision Festival

My junior band from McMath Secondary School performed at the Envision Jazz Festival on Thursday and they did a great job. As the director of the band I was so proud of them for working so hard to get the music together. The music of Count Basie covers the basics of playing and phrasing jazz ensembles and they took it all in and Basie is what we played. At the end of the day on Thursday we were on the board as a potential band to win a place in the finals showcase on Friday evening. Students poked their heads through my classroom door between classes all day wondering if I had heard if we were still on the board after the second day of competition. I received a call from festival organizer Kevin Lee late Friday afternoon and he told me that we had won a place in the Friday Evening Showcase. Four bands were invited to play in the finals and we were there. We played our two songs and in "Second Line," we added some choreography through the band in the style of the Vanguard Orchestra or the classic Jimmy Lunsford Band - we hit the shout chorus and the crowd went nuts! The band was pumped and we all had such a great time! In the end, Handsworth came away with the grand prize, but we were all winners. When young people can be so passionate and motivated about jazz, the music will live on. Congratulations to the other finalist bands: Semiahmoo, Aldergrove, and Handsworth.

Thank you to the organizers of this first class jazz band festival who deserve so much credit for giving jazz educators a fantastic event that provides a focal point for hard work and an opportunity for young jazz musicians to create memories that will last a lifetime.

The Envision Jazz Festival Comes to Town

Jazz Education shifts into high gear next week as high school jazz programs from throughout the lower mainland and the Fraser Valley meet at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey for the Envision Jazz Festival. This festival features High School Jazz Bands at both the Junior (Grades 8-10) and Senior (Grades 11 and 12) level as well as combos. The adjudicators are members of Vancouver’s strong jazz community and this gives students the opportunity to interact with jazz musicians who are living amongst them. I have taken student groups into the community in the past and I am always pleased that parents comment on the new worlds that are being opened to them by their children. The concerts presented here will expose students to the likes of Jennifer Scott and Cory Weeds amongst others. Also happening at the festival are two Rep. Bands, a Junior and a Senior. The Junior Rep. Band is being led by Tyler Summers. Tyler is a brilliant saxophone player from Aldergrove who paid his dues a the University of North Texas – that great Mecca of jazz that helped foster the great Brad Turner as well. Tyler has many awards and accolades of his own and is happy to lend his musicianship to mentoring these young students. Please check out Tyler’s myspace site at www.myspace.com/tyler_summers.

Learn more about the Envision Jazz Festival at: http://www.envisionjazzfestival.sd36.bc.ca/default.htm

The Get JazzEd Blog

Welcome to my blog on jazz education. Here, I will be posting issues and opportunities as they relate to music education and jazz - and toss in my own thoughts on trends as things unfold. If you are a student or a teacher, I will try to put up the various opportunities and events that I come across that may be of benefit to you. If you are a parent of a musician or just an enthusiast hoping to learn more about jazz, I will be posting for you too. Finally, if you are a musician, I will post opportunities as they present themselves for performers and composers.

You can learn about me personally at my website www.jeremyhepner.com or my myspace site which is www.myspace.com/jeremyhepner. I am currently the Vice President of IAJE Canada and in this position, I am made aware of many opportunities for Canadian jazz musicians. I hope to post much of what I learn here so visitors can see what's up. Please check out the new and improved International Association for Jazz Education Canada website at www. iajecanada.org.

Thanks for dropping by..........

Jeremy