Cal State Long Beach’s two jazz groups, Concert Jazz Orchestra and Pacific Standard Time (PST), won first place last week at the “Next Generation Jazz Festival,” a Monterey Jazz Festival component, earning them a spot at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
Both ensembles received a trophy and a $1,000 check, which earned them the Monterey trip. The 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival will take place Sept. 18 to 20.
“I believe the Concert Jazz Orchestra performed with the poise and confidence that comes with hard work, attention to detail and teamwork,” said Jeffrey Jarvis, director of jazz studies. “I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishment.”
Each ensemble practiced 15 to 20 hours before each performance is done throughout the academic season, Jarvis said.
Concert Jazz Orchestra and PST are both courses on campus, and professor Christine Guter, director of vocal jazz, directs PST. PST performs at jazz festivals, educational conferences and many other events.
“The first-place win is both overwhelming and humbling,” Guter said. “The program has drawn students from all over the country to receive their education at CSULB.”
Proceedings from concert ticket sales and the jazz studies budget fund both ensembles’ trips to Monterey. Both groups will also perform at the Marin County High School of the Arts and Los Altos High School from Silicon Valley before going to Monterey, Jarvis said.
Students must audition to join the ensemble at the beginning of the academic year. The Bob Cole Conservatory only selects students with the finest talents in jazz to be part of one of the two ensembles.
“It is our continuing effort to make CSULB a destination for serious jazz students,” Jarvis said.
A panel from the Berklee School of Music in Boston reviewed many audition recordings, including CSULB’s, and selects six finalists for both the college vocal jazz division and for the college big band division, according to Jarvis.
PST won first place against five other colleges: Mount San Antonio College from Texas; Mount Hood College from Oregon, De Anza College, Cuesta College and Sacramento State University.
The Concert Jazz Orchestra also won first place, competing against the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Sacramento State University, Brookhaven College from Texas, Azusa Pacific College and University of the Pacific.
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All the vocal groups [at the competition] were top notch, and the fact that the judges ranked PST the highest among them says a great deal about the quality of our program and the commitment to excellence from our students,” Guter said. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
Many graduates from the music department go into music education, Jarvis said. Many of them play professionally during their studies at CSULB and during summer months.
Anyone interested to attend the festival can purchase tickets by visiting the Monterey Jazz Festival website or calling (925) 275- 9255.