South High School’s Jazz Ensemble NYC Performance to be Webcast; Ensemble to Perform at Midwest Clinic and IMEA Conferences

In February, the Jazz Ensemble at South High School in Downers Grove, directed by Craig Roselieb, was selected as one of only 15 jazz bands nationwide to perform and compete in the Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival in New York City.

The ensemble will perform on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 12:10 to 12:30 p.m., Central Standard Time. To view a webcast of the ensemble performing live, visit www.jalc.org/essentiallyellington. The South High performance will be followed by jazz ensemble performances of the Dillard Center for the Arts, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, and Temple High School in Temple, Texas.

The Jazz Ensemble has also been selected to perform at the 65th annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December, 2011 and the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria on January 27, 2012.

The Midwest Clinic is an international band and orchestra conference held at McCormick Place in Chicago. Approximately 16,000 instrumental music educators worldwide attend the annual conference, which is designed to improve and raise the standards of music education.

In addition to over 300 exhibits, each conference features approximately 30 concerts and 90 clinics by ensembles and music educators from around the world. Ensembles compete for the limited performance slots by submitting a recording ahead of time, which is judged by a selection committee. The Midwest Clinic concerts are open to conference attendees.

“The talent and dedication of the students in our Jazz Ensemble is incredibly remarkable; the ‘perfect game’ of jazz occurs when they assemble to perform. To be able to experience the thrill of acceptance in New York for the Essentially Ellington festival is just the first stop on this journey for these students.

With a performance at the Midwest clinic next December, and an additional performance at the IMEA Conference next January, this kind of state, national and international recognition is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a true blessing to all,” says Director Craig Roselieb.

The IMEA Conference is one of the largest state professional music educators in the nation with 5,000 members.  The IMEA sponsors and organizes performance festival experiences for the student musicians of Illinois and provides professional growth opportunities for the music educators of Illinois. 

"We are thrilled that this group of student musicians can continue to perform on a grander professional stage." said department chairman Glenn Williams. "The jazz educators in Illinois will depart inspired after hearing this stellar ensemble."