By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
VOX Central Jazz has racked up its fifth award since its formation at Hopewell Valley Central High School – this time, at the inaugural New Jersey Vocal Jazz Festival sponsored by the New Jersey Association for Jazz Educators., VOX Central Jazz, which consists of 19 student musicians and is accompanied by a rhythm section, placed second in the New Jersey Vocal Jazz Festival. The event was hosted by Hopewell Valley Central High School., Individually, the group also earned awards for Outstanding Bass Section for members Ian Willick and Koji Sakano. Gian Lombardo earned an award for Outstanding Instrumental Soloist., The festival featured jazz choirs from five high schools – Hopewell Valley Central High School, Princeton High School, Burlington Township High School, Burlington City High School and West Milford High School., The choirs each performed a set of music for three judges, who provided written critiques and commentary as well as an overall score and ranking for each participating choir., VOX Central Jazz was created two years ago by Randy White, who is the director of choirs at the high school. He attended the University of Northern Colorado, which is well known for its jazz programs., “Students have to audition to become members of VOX Central Jazz,” White said. “The choir focuses on the genre of jazz music, and its repertoire includes contemporary music arranged in jazz style. It also includes standard jazz repertoire.”, VOX Central Jazz requires students to explore alternate harmonies which differ from the western style of composition for most choral music, White said., Vocal jazz allows the student-musicians an opportunity to improvise – to create a new melody and rhythm over existing chords while keeping in mind the appropriate stylistic needs of the music, White said., “It is a high level of musicianship that can take years to master,” White said., VOX Central Jazz is one of the high school’s most active performing ensembles. It has performed twice at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival, winning third place in 2015 and 2016., The jazz choir has performed twice at the Roxbury Invitational, taking second place in 2016 and first place this year, White said., Meanwhile, the New Jersey Vocal Jazz Festival marks an important milestone for this genre of music and for Hopewell Valley Central High School’s student musicians, he said., “We are extremely grateful for the support of the Hopewell Valley Central High School community in embracing this new ensemble,” White said.
