The Darien High School Jazz Ensemble placed third in their division at the Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival in Boston on Saturday, February 10.
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— This announcement is from the Darien Public Schools Music Department blog.
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The Berklee Jazz Festival is the largest high school Jazz festival in the country and featured nearly 200 competing bands and ensembles from 138 participating schools from 15 states including Illinois, Puerto Rico, Florida and even as far away as California.
The Darien Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jonathan Grauer performed three selections, “Lu’s Blues,” “Better Get Hit in Your Soul,” and “Whiplash.”
“I am very pleased with our performance on Saturday,” Grauer said. “Our kids really worked hard and it showed in their performance. This is the highest that we have ever placed at this Festival.”
Darien drummer Anan Durango received the ensemble’s outstanding soloist award for his solo work on “Whiplash.”
The Darien HS Jazz Ensemble has upcoming performances at the Darien Jazz Jamboree on March 2, the Norwalk Jazz Festival on March 9, the King Jazz Festival in Stamford on March 11 and the Greenwich Ellington Jazz festival on March 24.