Members of the Jackson Liberty High School jazz ensemble are looking forward to a return trip to the New Jersey Jazz Finals. KERWIN CAPERS JACKSON — The Jackson Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble is looking to keep up the tempo this year, after recently learning of a return to the New Jersey Jazz Finals.
According to a release from Jackson Liberty Band Parents President John Burnetsky, the ensemble has competed in the annual five-day New Jersey Association for Jazz Education (NJAJE) State Jazz Festival.
For the sixth year in a row, the Jackson Liberty Jazz Ensemble was one of nine bands selected by the NJAJE to advance to the finals, placing just behind Princeton and Scotch Plains.
The NJAJE festival is a two-part event where approximately 50 high school jazz ensembles from around the state compete for top honors.
The festival holds a preliminary round over five consecutive nights at five locations each night. Jackson Liberty was one of five schools to host an NJAJE preliminary round on March 14.
The second phase will feature the top nine contestants who will perform at one of three locations on April 26.
“I am definitely looking forward to the finals again this year. Everyone in the band is doing an excellent job, and it will be a great way to end my final season as a member of the band,” Jackson Liberty senior and award-winning soloist Lorenzo Garcia said.
According to the NJAJE, the Jackson Liberty Jazz Ensemble has held the top rank in Ocean County for the last six years.
This year, band director Scott Katona said he was particularly proud of the ensemble after its members earned a number of awards for first-place competition wins, soloist awards, outstanding musician awards, improvisation awards and best overall section awards.
“This year’s band, like previous years, has a lot of talent and enthusiasm. I am happy for their achievements,” Katona said.
Jackson Liberty will host its own jazz festival on April 5 from noon to 5 p.m. Performances at the festival will include the Jackson Liberty jazz ensemble, jazz percussion ensemble and a capella singing group.
Additional performances at the festival will include ensembles from Jackson Memorial High School, the Christa McAuliffe Middle School and the Carl W. Goetz Middle School, all of Jackson, and seven other high schools, according to the press release.
“We have all been working really hard, but we do not let that get in the way of having fun while we are playing,” Jackson Liberty senior and award-winning soloist Jared Burnett said.