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  • HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLES FROM HAMILTON ACADEMY OF MUSIC, EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL, AND DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL FOR SOUNDS ABOUT TOWN CONCERT
  • May. 11, 2008
  • SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008, AT 7:30 PM

    Local high school jazz ensembles debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall for a special Sounds About Town performance on Sunday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. Students from the Hamilton Academy of Music, Eagle Rock High School and Downey High School perform standards from the jazz canon for an evening of swingin’ favorites.

    The Hamilton Academy of Music Jazz Ensemble “A”, under the direction of Dan Taguchi, performs Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me In,” Sinatra’s first vocal hit, “Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” and more. The Eagle Rock High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Greg Samuel, dips into the Ellington songbook and performs “Satin Doll,” “Old King Dooji” and “In a Sentimental Mood,” as well as other jazz standards. The Downey High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Cory Olariu, performs such classics as Cole Porter’s “Love for Sale” and Bob Mintzer’s “Latin Dance.”

    The Sounds About Town concerts further the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's goal of nurturing tomorrow's performers by providing opportunities for leading youth ensembles to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

    The DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE has been competing in California and Nevada over the last seven years winning many awards. Most recently, they won the Western States Jazz Festival in the advanced division earlier this year. They have worked with many clinicians such as Maria Schneider, Bart Samolis, Peter Erskine, Billy Childs, Bruce Babad and Matt Johnson. The Jazz Band is directed by Cory Olariu, who has been teaching at Downey High School for the last seven years. Olariu and the Downey High School jazz ensemble had the privilege to perform at Opening Night of the Hollywood Bowl 2006 summer season.

    The EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE, under the direction of Greg Samuel, enjoys a long tradition of musical excellence and acclaim. Since the 1960s, the program has produced some of today’s top studio musicians, including Arturo Velasco, Larry Koonse, Luis Bonilla, Carlos Vega, Scott Colley, Dave Stone, and Roger Ingram. In 1993 the band was invited to perform at President Clinton’s Inauguration in Washington D.C. Today the band continues to share great jazz with listeners everywhere, traveling most recently to Hawaii. They were finalists in the 2006 KJAZZ High School Jazz Festival, and attend the Monterey Jazz Festival High School Competition as well as other local festivals. Last June, the ensemble performed at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the 2008 Playboy Jazz Festival.

    The HAMILTON ACADEMY OF MUSIC is the largest performing arts magnet school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1987, the Academy opened with about 400 students. Today, the enrollment is about 900 students. Class offerings at the Academy include instrumental and choral music, electronic music, musical theater, drama, technical theater, and dance. Other courses include Advanced Placement Music Theory, Piano, and Music History. In addition, a rigorous academic program is offered. Recent Academy graduates have enrolled at such prestigious institutions as U.C.L.A., Harvard, Stanford, New York University, the Boston Conservatory, the Berklee School of Music, and Julliard. The HAMILTON ACADEMY OF MUSIC JAZZ ENSEMBLE was founded in 1987 by Director Emeritus, Mr. Sidney Lasaine. Upon his retirement in 1996, Mr. Lasaine was succeeded by Mr. Dan Taguchi. Over the years,the ensemble has earned a national reputation for excellence, and has performed at a number of top jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, the Jazz Bakery, Catalina Bar and Grill, and Disneyland. The ensemble has won numerous first place awards at local, regional, and national jazz festivals, and has been awarded Student Music Awards by Downbeat magazine for its 2001, 2003, and 2005 CDs.

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music — Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association’s involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008, at 7:30 PM


    WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles



    Sounds About Town



    HAMILTON ACADEMY OF MUSIC JAZZ ENSEMBLE “A”

    EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE

    DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE

    Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For more information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Adam Crane, 213.972.3422, acrane@laphil.org; Lisa Bellamore, 213.972.3689, lbellamore@laphil.org; Photos: 213.972.3034