2007-2008 SFJAZZ High School All-Stars announced

On September 8 and 9 the Jazzschool in Berkeley hosted the annual auditions for the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, a distinguished panel heard over 85 gifted high school musicians over the course of two days. Our adjudicators included All-Stars director Dr. Dee Spencer, drummer Akira Tana from San Francisco State University, trumpeter and leader of Oaktown Jazz Khalil Shaheed, and saxophonist Hafez Modirzadeh from San Francisco State University.

Students came from as far away as Davis and Santa Cruz to audition for 22 available ensemble spots.  From the first audition to the last, the entire panel agreed that everyone showed remarkable maturity, preparation, and talent.  Across the board, all the students shared the genuine interest and excitement in jazz music.  The adjudicators felt that gratitude must be expressed to all the great Bay Area music teachers, as the students all came well versed in jazz vocabulary, theory, and instrumental technique.

While only able to accept a small percentage from the students we auditioned, we wanted to share a word encouragement to all the students we heard, and wish them continued success as young performers.

On behalf of myself, our All-Stars manager Christina Ayala, and Director Dee Spencer, we’d like to say congratulations to the students accepted in the ensemble.

We all feel that this is one of the most promising bands formed during the All-Stars program’s existence, and invite all to come and hear them at our SFJAZZ premiere on November 11, where they’ll play a new commission, "Traditions in Transition", composed by Bay Area percussion master and former Machete Ensemble leader John Santos, and arranged by John Calloway.

-Cory Combs

View the complete 2007-2008 SFJAZZ High School All-Star Roster