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 Chappaqua, NY – The 16-piece Westchester Jazz Orchestra (WJO) performs an annual concert series and conducts educational programs, reaching hundreds of students throughout the County. WJO is now expanding their educational offerings and will present their first seminar for music teachers on Nov. 3.
The new workshop, “Rehearsing and Conducting the High School Jazz Band,” will be held on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3 at New Rochelle High School from 10 AM until 2:30 PM. Mike Holober, WJO’s Artistic Director, will lead the clinic. “The class will be enjoyable, interactive and practical, and the information and techniques explored will apply to ensembles of varying levels and instrumentation,” notes Holober.
He continues, “One of the key features making this workshop unique and invaluable will be the presence of a high school jazz band to work with -- and work on.”
Rob Freeberg, director of the New Rochelle High School jazz band, will have his band in attendance. Freeberg, a trumpet player, performed with a WJO sextet last year at the High School when WJO conducted a series of workshops for the jazz band there.
“I am really looking forward to this workshop,” says Freeberg. “WJO’s student workshops are always inspirational and informative and I know this one will be as well.”
A renowned jazz pianist, composer and long-time educator, Holober is an associate professor at The City College of NY, associate director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, and has extensive experience teaching high school bands – and their band directors. He has also conducted, written for, performed and recorded with many prominent professional jazz orchestras nationally and abroad.
WJO’s educational initiatives extend beyond the classroom to their season concerts with pre-concert talks and the incredibly low student ticket price of $5. WJO’s first 2009-10 season concert in September with sold out and had over 60 students in attendance.
The season continues with Sax Masters: The Music of Coltrane, Cannonball, Bird and More on December 5; From Bossa to Tango: Sounds of South America on January 30; and Americana on April 10. The concerts are partially funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, ArtsWestchester, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music and numerous individuals.
The teacher workshop fee is $75. For more information, contact WJO at 914-861-9100 or www.westjazzorch.org. Reserved seating tickets to WJO’s concerts are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and only $5 for students. Subscription and group discounts are available. Tickets: at WJO’s website or Irvington Theater box office, 914-591-6602.
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