District X Jazz Page!

District X All Star Jazz Bands

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2025-2026 Fall Jazz Report

All Star Jazz Band Swing Dance and WMJS jazz at the Park!

Talented students from 14 different high school joined to perform twice after two brief rehearsals! One was through the West Michigan Jazz Society's Jazz at the Park Concert Series. After the Festival of the Arts folded, we were looking for a new venue and providentially Northview HS was selected to perform on the opening Monday. Thankfully the WMJS allowed us to pilot an option to partner with the this event and share the stage! It worked out perfectly! Great crowd, and great weather despite the wildfire smoke! Next year we hope to continue this partnership with East Kentwood HS who was asked to perform this coming summer! The second performance was again at Rosa Parks in collaboration with HarkUp and Grand Rapids Original Swing Society to play at their Tuesday night swing dance! It was a huge success and we potentially have an addition performance this coming year! More to come on that! Thanks again to Michael Gozzard for helping me direct this group!

District Jazz Festival -Thursday, March 12 @ Caledonia & FHC

This year we again want to Kyle Welfare and Caledonia for hosting! New this year I want to thank Joel Burns and Forest Hills Central for hosting the second (northern) site this year! Please mark this on your calendars! It's consistently talked about as the students and teacher's 'favorite' festival! It's for jazz ensembles of ALL sizes and ALL skills! The main focus is the clinic and hyping up your students to get more excited about playing their instrument and further their love of jazz music! Look for registrations in early December!

2024-2025 District Jazz Festival & Spring Report

2025 District Jazz Clinic/Festival another success!

Thanks to all 26 participating jazz ensembles that registered in this year's Clinic/Festival! It was great to hear so much incredible work that students and directors have done these past years! We had an all-star cast of clinicians including: James 'Doc' Sawyer, Andrew Rathbun, Tom Polett, Scott Cowan, Joe LaJoye, Max Colley III. A special thanks to Kyle Welfare for his help hosting once again!! This year there were over 140 awards given out, two 1/2 scholarships to Aquinas camp, two JW pepper gift cards, 6 Aebersold books given out, two gift cards to RIT music! Thanks to J.W. Pepper, Marshall Music, Meyer Music, West Michigan Band Instruments, West Michigan Jazz Society, and RIT music for their generous donations! When you see your reps or visit any/all of these companies, please thank them again on our behalf!

2025 District X HS All Star Jazz Band - Nominate your All Stars!

I'm happy to announce that we are all good to go with this year's District X HS All-Star Jazz Band! We have some of the best jazz musicians in the State and I LOVE that we can get them together without competition, but simply to play music and spread joy/love of the music! Mike Gozzard and I will be directing the ensemble again this year!

With the Festival of the Arts closing, I've worked to partner with West Michigan Jazz Society and my High School's slot in the Jazz in the Park Series to give us another option to perform. We'll pilot this idea this year and we may have this each year IF it goes well! :) We'll also perform again at a swing night downtown. Much more details once students are selected.

As always, we will try to get every possible student in while still getting needed instrumentation. (i.e. one year we had 5 bari sax players nominated... we cannot take them all :)

Nominations are due by Friday, April 26th.

We'll announce the band members around May 1st.

To save you time, please gather this info BEFORE YOU NOMINATE STUDENTS :

Confirm they can make ALL FOUR commitments:
1. Rehearsal -SUNDAY, May 18th, 1:30p-4pm (@ East Kentwood HS)
2. Rehearsal -SUNDAY, June 1st, 1:30p-4pm (@ Northview HS)
3. Performance - MONDAY June 2nd, 6:30-8:30pm (@ Millennium Park -as a part of the WMJS series and Northview Jazz Band)
4. Performance -TUESDAY, June 3rd, 7:00-8:30pm for Swing Night downtown GR (as a part of the Hark-up Horns)
Acquire the following Student information:
1. An email address that will allow outside emails (non-school email?)
2. T-shirt size

Once you've acquired the aforementioned info, use that to fill this nomination form for each nomination:

Dist X HS ALL STAR JAZZ BAND NOMINATION FORM LINK

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!!!

Happy Spring!!!!
Greg Wells

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PREVIOUS REPORTS AND INFO:

District 10 Jazz Festival Application OPEN!

CLINIC/FESTIVAL DATE: Thursday, March 13, 2025

APPLICATION DUE DATE: January 31, 2025

CLINIC SITES: Caledonia HS or Northview HS

CLINIC FEE: $125

LATE ENTRY DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 7, 2025 -Late FEE is $50/ensemble

Application/registration:

Mail a check for $125 (payable to: MSBOA District 10) to:

MSBOA District 10 Jazz Clinic/Festival

Northview High School -Attn: Greg Wells

4451 Hunsberger Ave. NE,

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

This festival is designed for EDUCATION and ENCOURAGEMENT. It's perfect for the "first attempt" level ensembles to the highly experienced! This is a non-qualifying event, so ratings are never posted or reported! It's not about ratings unless YOU want it to be about ratings! Each group may select “rating and comments” or “comments only”. Two adjudicators will provide written and recorded comments. Each performance is followed immediately by a 25-minute clinic. Outstanding soloists and individuals may be recognized with certificates, free study materials and/or scholarship opportunities. Scores for the judges are not necessary and NO work assignments for directors!

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2024-2025 District Jazz Fall Report

2024 District X HS All Star Jazz Band -SUPER FUN and successful! Well done students!

Back in June the dozen different high schools put forth another wonderful representation of the talent here in District 10! They performed at the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts once again and then at Rosa Parks sitting in for a set during the Swing Dance Night! It was a amazing for students to have a great opportunity at a real gig, having people not only listen be actively participate in dancing to THEIR musical talents! It's such a great night for our students to play together without competition, but collectively for the love of music! I hope we can continue these events! Thank you Mr. Gozzard for your help with this ensemble and to the our district 10 support of this! Look for nomination forms to be sent out again in late Winter or early Spring.

2025 District Jazz Clinic/Festival -Thursday, March 13th

The clinic festival is the prime place to help grow or restart your jazz ensembles of ANY kind/instrumentation! The focus as always is education/clinics with a rating thrown in there ONLY if you want it! If you didn't attend last year or have never attended, I STRONGLY encourage you to send a group or two! It's consistently touted as one of the 'favorite festivals' that students attend each year! The southern site will again Caledonia. (Thanks Kyle Welfare and crew!) The second site is back at Northview High School. Deadline for application is Jan. 31 (same as State Jazz fest deadline) Late entries accepted only up to one week after deadline with late fee). Application google form will be out in December and sent via email.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions! Send me an email with questions or inquiries about hosting! gwells@nvps.net

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2023-2024 District Jazz Festival & Spring Report

2024 District Jazz Clinic/Festival

Thanks to all 23 participating jazz ensembles that registered in this year's Clinic/Festival! It was great to hear so much incredible work that students and directors have done these past years! We had an all-star cast of clinicians including: James 'Doc' Sawyer, Keith Hall, Matthew Fries, Andrew Rathbun, Tom Polett, and Scott Cowan. A special thanks to Kyle Welfare for his help hosting and to Tiffany Engle and Calvin University for facilitating the second site! Thanks for the evaluation that several completed! This year there were over 100 awards given out, $500 to Aquinas camp, $30 to JW pepper, and 6 Aebersold books given out, lesson vouchers, two real books, and $50 to RIT music! Thanks to J.W. Pepper, Marshall Music, Meyer Music, West Michigan Band Instruments, West Michigan Jazz Society, RIT music, and Guitar Center for their generous contributions! When you see your reps of any/all of these companies, please thank them again on our behalf!

2024 District X HS All Star Jazz Band -IT'S BACK! Nominate your All Stars!

It's back!!! We have TWO performances again this year!! We will do everything we can to get as many students/schools involved! However, this application is not a guarantee that your student will be selected. Even with a larger than normal jazz band, we still must have decent instrumentation. I know you all understand this very well. Nominations are due by Friday, April 26. Nominated students MUST be able to attend these FOUR (4) commitments:

Rehearsal - May 19, 1:30 - 4:00pm @ East Kentwood High School
Rehearsal - June 2, 1:30 - 4:00pm @ Northview High School
Performance -TUESDAY, June 4th for swing night down town GR with the Hark-up Horns! (more info coming)
Performance -Saturday, June 8th 4-5pm at the Festival of the Arts Downtown CALDER STAGE!

Nomination Link was sent to directors! IF have questions please email me: gwells@nvps.net

District 10 Jazz Festival Application OPEN!

APPLICATION DUE DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

CLINIC/FESTIVAL DATE: Thursday, March 14, 2024

CLINIC SITES: Caledonia H.S. or Calvin University (*new site this year)

CLINIC FEE: $125

LATE ENTRY DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 7, 2024 -Late FEE is $50/ensemble

This festival is designed for EDUCATION and ENCOURAGEMENT. It's perfect for the "first attempt" ensembles to highly experienced! Ratings are never posted, shared, or reported! It's not about ratings unless YOU want it to be about ratings! Each group may select “rating and comments” or “comments only”. Two adjudicators will provide written and recorded comments. Each performance is followed immediately by a 25-minute clinic. Outstanding soloists and individuals may be recognized with certificates, free study materials and/or scholarship opportunities. Scores for the judges are not necessary and NO work assignments for directors!

Application/registration:

Mail a check for $125 (payable to: MSBOA District 10) to:

MSBOA District 10 Jazz Clinic/Festival

Northview High School -Attn: Greg Wells

4451 Hunsberger Ave. NE,

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

2023-2024 District Jazz Fall Report

2023 District X HS All Star Jazz Band was another great success!

2024 District Jazz Clinic/Festival -Thursday, March 14th

The clinic festival is the prime place to help grow or restart your jazz ensembles of ANY kind/instrumentation! The focus as always is education/clinics with a rating thrown in there ONLY if you want it! If you didn't attend last year or have never attended, I STRONGLY encourage you to send a group or two! It's consistently touted as one of the 'favorite festivals' that students attend each year! The southern site will again Caledonia. (Thanks Kyle Welfare and crew!) The second site is likey going to be Calvin College. That will be determined shortly. Deadline for application is Jan. 31 (same as State Jazz fest deadline) Late entries due per our late policy one week after deadline). Application forms will be out in December and sent via email.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions OR if you're thinking about hosting! It's a VERY friendly festival if you want to test the waters with hosting! I can help you the whole way through the process!! Send me an email with questions or inquiries about hosting! gwells@nvps.net

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2022-2023 District Jazz Festival & Spring Report

2023 District Jazz Clinic/Festival Success!

Thanks to all 22 participating jazz ensembles that registered in this year's Clinic/Festival! It was great to hear so much incredible work that students and directors have done these past years! We had an all star cast of clinicians including: James 'Doc' Sawyer, Keith Hall, Anthony Stanco, Andrew Rathbun, Tyson Haynes, and Scott Cowan. A special thanks to Kyle Welfare for his help hosting and running sites! Thanks for the evaluation that several completed! We'll work to get those suggestions solved for next year for sure both in recording issues, and stage mics/pianos! This year there over 100 awards given out, $300 toward Keith Hall Drum Camp, $500 to Aquinas camp, $50 to JW pepper, and 6 Aebersold books given out! Thanks to J.W. Pepper, Keith Hall, Marshall Music, Meyer Music, West Michigan Band Instruments, and West Michigan Jazz Society for their generous contributions! When you see your reps of any/all of these companies, please thank them again on our behalf!

2023 District X HS All Star Jazz Band -IT'S BACK! Nominate your All Stars!

It's back!!! We have TWO performances again this year!! We will do everything we can to get as many students/schools involved! However, this application is not a guarantee that your student will be selected. Even with a larger than normal jazz band, we still must have decent instrumentation. I know you all understand this very well. Nominations are due by Friday, April 21. Nominated students MUST be able to attend these FOUR (4) commitments:

Rehearsal -Saturday, May 13th 9:00a - noon (@Northview HS)
Rehearsal -Sunday, May 21st 1:30p - 4p (@East Kentwood HS)
Performance -Saturday, June 3rd 1-2pm on CALDER STAGE
Performance -TUESDAY, June 6th for swing night down town GR with the Hark-up Horns! (more info coming)

If you need the nomination link again OR have questions please email me: gwells@nvps.net

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2023 Distrcit Jazz CLINIC/Festival is now open!

For those that may not know about this, the CLINIC/festival is an excellent place for groups of ANY ability or sizes!! The emphasis is on the CLINIC and education. Yes we do offer ratings IF the director would like to have a rating, but it's not the focus! Many younger ensembles and/or directors find this to be one of the friendliest and most encouraging festivals they attend each year! You should definitely consider sending an ensemble or two!! Two adjudicators will provide written and recorded comments. Each performance is followed immediately by a 25-minute clinic. Outstanding soloists will be recognized with certificates, awards they can use such as Aeborsold books, scholarships to jazz camps, drum camp, and JW pepper gift cards! Scores for the judges are not necessary and there are NO work assignments... I repeat -NO work assignments for directors! :)

APPLICATION DUE DATE: Tuesday, January 31, 2023

CLINIC/FESTIVAL DATE: Thursday, March 9, 2023

CLINIC SITES: Caledonia H.S. and Northview HS

CLINIC FEE: $125

LATE ENTRY DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 7, 2023 -Late FEE is $50/ensemble

Application/Registration link: https://forms.gle/NW2L21YmJoS3pXD96

Check for $125 payable to:
MSBOA District 10

Send check to:

MSBOA District 10 Jazz Clinic/Festival

Northview High School Attn: Greg Wells

4451 Hunsberger Ave. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

The invoice for those that need it, is linked here: 2023 Jazz Festival/Clinic Online Receipt

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2022-2023 District Jazz Festival & Fall Report

2022 District X ALL STAR JAZZ BAND Success again!!!

This past Spring and into the Summer the District X All Star Band was back in action! Students from nearly a dozen different schools rehearsed twice and got to perform twice. The first was on Calder Stage at the Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids as we've done in the past. This year we added a performance in conjunction with Hark Up Horns and the Grand Rapids Original Swing Society and performed a short set for the dancers! They were part of the first performance at the newly renovated Rosa Parks Circle Downtown Grand Rapids. This was a HUGE success and gave the students much more of a 'real-life' gig experience! They had a great performance for the band after the wind storm at festival and left ALL of the students with a positive experience! Smiles and excitement abound!

2023 District Jazz Clinic/Festival and All star jazz band slated to continue!

We hope to repeat locations and increase the numbers of bands participating this year post covid and program recovery! The clinic festival is literally the prime place to help grow or restart your jazz ensembles of ANY kind/instrumentation! The focus as always is education/clinics with a rating thrown in there if you want it! If didn't attend last year or have never attended I STRONGLY encourage you to send a group or two! It's consistently touted as one of the 'favorite festivals' that students attend in the year! The sites will again be Northview HS for the northern site and Caledonia for the southern site. Deadline for application is Jan. 31 (same as State Jazz fest deadline) and the Clinic/festival is Thursday, March 9th.

All STAR applications/nominations will be in the Spring with performances again in early June. More on that as the dates draw nearer!

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2021-2022 District Jazz Festival & Spring Report

2022 District Jazz Clinic/Festival Success!

Thanks to all 20 participating jazz ensembles that registered in this year's Clinic/Festival! It was great to hear so much incredible work that students and directors have done these past years! This festival marked the two year anniversary of the 'shut down' and was exciting to have it back up and running. A special thanks to Kyle Welfare and Matt Palmieri for their help hosting and running sites! Evaluations came in positive with one judging issue and one recording issue. Easily remedied!

2022 District X HS All Star Jazz Band -IT'S BACK! Nominate your All Stars!

It's back!!! We also have TWO performances this year!! We will do everything we can to get as many students/schools involved! However, this application is not a guarantee that your student will be selected. Even with a larger than normal jazz band, we still must have decent instrumentation. I know you all understand this very well. Nominations are due by Thursday, April 21. Nominated students MUST be able to attend these FOUR (4) commitments:

Rehearsal -Saturday, May 7th 9:00-noon (@Northview HS)
Rehearsal -Saturday, May 21st 9:00am-noon (@East Kentwood HS)
Performance -FRIDAY, June 3rd 7-8pm on CALDER STAGE
Performance -TUESDAY, June 7th for swing night down town GR with the Hark-up Horns! (more info coming)

If you need the nomination link again OR have questions please email me: gwells@nvps.net

2021-2022 District Jazz Festival & Winter Report

APPLICATION DUE DATE: Monday, January 31, 2022

CLINIC/FESTIVAL DATE: Thursday, March 10, 2022

CLINIC SITES: Caledonia H.S./Northview HS

CLINIC FEE: $125

Application/Registration link: https://forms.gle/k3Hc3QZDYbSor5GM8

This CLINIC/festival is a excellent place for groups of ANY ability! The emphasis is on the CLINIC and education side of things. Yes we do offer ratings IF the director would like to have a rating, but it's not the focus! Many younger ensembles and/or directors find this to be one of the friendliest and encouraging festivals they attend each year! You should definitely consider sending an ensemble! Each group may select “rating and comments” or “comments only”. Two adjudicators will provide written and recorded comments. Each performance is followed immediately by a 25-minute clinic. Outstanding soloists may be recognized with certificates, study materials and/or scholarship opportunities. Scores for the judges are not necessary.

Please complete the online form and mail a check for $125 (payable to: MSBOA District 10) to:

MSBOA District 10 Jazz Clinic/Festival
Northview High School -Attn: Greg Wells
4451 Hunsberger Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Adjudicators this year are all great educators, active gigging jazz musicians, and motivational clinicians! This year we have: Keith Hall, Doc Sawyer, Max Colley III, Robin Connell, Dave Wells, and Scott Cowan

AWARDS: Besides ratings, if directors choose that, our adjudicators will select individual awards for outstanding performers, and select students to receive J.W. pepper gift cards, Aerbersold books, and Scholarships to the Aquinas Jazz Camp. These awards are graciously given by: West Michigan Jazz Society, Marshall Music, Meyer Music, West Michigan Band Instruments, and J.W. Pepper!

2022 Dist. X All Star Jazz Band

We are still in the same place with these as reported in the fall. See below for that report.

2021-2022 Dist. X Jazz FALL Report

Thanks for the schools that have submitted recordings to me for comments! Thanks to Mark Wells, Luke Marlow, Marshal Werling for giving incredible feedback for the bands!!!!

Speaking of next year, our jazz clinic/festival will be March 10 with a deadline of Jan. 31st. 2022. We have both sites back! Thanks to Kyle Welfare and Caledonia, and Matt Palmieri for site chairing at Northview.

The Dist X All Star Band is BACK! We would keep all everything else the same for us (no cost) for the All Star jazz band, we'll rehearse at St. Cecilia. We'll also be performing at FOTA down town the first weekend in June and then June 7th at the Grand Rapids Swing Society (GROSS) on their live Tuesday night swing nights at Rosa Parks Circle. The Hark-up Horns will be performing that night, and we'll step in to play one short set for the swing dancers! It's going to be a great time with a great appreciative audience!!

If anyone sees any issues good or bad to address with this please contact me: gwells@nvps.net

If any schools have guest artists coming to their school, let me know so I can put it here on this page!

Dist X Guest Artists

March 20 -TBD MSU, Rockford HS, Northview HS -At Northview High School

April 29 -Camille Thurman - Byron Center High School

April 30 -Chris Brown - Northview high school 7:30pm

May 21 - Wycliffe Gordon - Rockford High School -7 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM

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