Newport High School’s Jazz Ensemble I won 2nd place in the Swing Central Jazz Competition at the Savannah Music Festival on April 1 in Savannah, Ga. Newport competed against 12 of the best high school bands in the nation.
The Swing Central Jazz Competition is a part of the Savannah Music Festival. Bands submit recordings to be selected into the competition. 12 finalists are selected to compete for awards and national recognition.
The event includes a three-day workshop and coaching by some of the top professionals in jazz. Judges and clinicians included Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, John, Jeff and Gerald Clayton, Marcus Roberts, Terrell Stafford, and living jazz legend Slide Hampton.
All bands play the same three selections of music, chosen by the Swing Central staff, for a panel of adjudicators. Judging is on style, individual/section and ensemble musicianship, improvisation and soloing.
