County jazz bands compete in district festival
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Student musicians from throughout Aroostook County shone as brightly as their trumpets, trombones and saxophones last Wednesday night as they competed in the District Jazz Festival, sponsored by the Northern Maine Music Educators Association.
Middle and high school jazz bands from Presque Isle, Houlton and Fort Kent participated in the festival, which was held at PIMS.
Bands that received a 74 or higher advanced to the state competition.
“This year, every school that came for a score from the judges made it to states,” said Pat Bragdon, host director and band/vocal music instructor at PIMS.
The first group began performing at 5 p.m., while the last jazz band took the stage at 7:55 p.m. Each group had 25 minutes to get on stage, perform, and exit the stage.
“Some bands in the past have performed one long, 15-minute song,” said Bragdon, “but generally groups do three songs … something jazzy, a slow ballad, and some type of Latin tune.”
Sherri Calhoun, who teaches music at Mapleton Elementary School, served as one of the judges along with Bob King, a retired music teacher from Limestone.
“[As a judge] I look for basics and good musicianship. For example, good tone production, are they breathing correctly, are they articulating clearly, are we hearing a lot of dynamic contrast, are they phrasing well, are they playing together … just basic musical concepts,” said Calhoun. “We’re trying to look at things that are real black and white.
“The other thing we’re looking for is whether or not what they’re playing is developmentally appropriate for them,” she said. “We don’t expect the same level of difficulty of music from the middle school that you would from a high school, but you would take that into account.”
Calhoun said she was pleased with how well the bands performed.
“The kids are doing well, and it’s exciting to see the kids grow as musicians; I’ve seen a lot of growth,” she said. “My encouragement to all the performers is ‘Keep on tootin’.’”
This was the first year that PIMS sixth-grader Aaron Swanson, who plays the piano, competed in the district festival.
“I’m not nervous because I know I’m going to do fine,” said a calm Swanson before taking the stage. “I’ve been playing the piano for about five years now, not only in band but for school plays, plus at church, so performing on stage isn’t a big deal for me.”
Swanson said he was drawn to the piano after his brother learned the instrument.
“My brother, Seth, started playing and I thought it would be fun to learn it because I had been to his piano lessons all the time,” he said. “I thought I’d enjoy it and I do.”
Eighth-grader Rachel Scott has competed in the district festival throughout her middle school career.
“I only get nervous when I have a solo which I don’t this year, said Scott, who plays the alto sax. “Rehearsals have been going very well; we started practicing these songs in October. I think we’re ready.”
Scott said she chose the alto sax because “it looked easy.”
“It’s easy after you learn all the notes and stuff,” she said, noting that she began playing in fifth grade.
Though hoping to advance to the state competition, Scott said she was focusing only on the district festival.
“I don’t really concentrate on the future,” she said, “I’m more in the moment. It’s easier for me to try to get through one thing at a time. Hopefully we’ll advance though.”
Bragdon said this year’s festival went very well.
“Things went great,” he said. “The students all sounded really good and everything ran smoothly.”
The high school state jazz festival will be held March 18-19 at Mount Desert Island High School, while the middle school competition will be held March 26 at Stearns High School in Millinocket.
