Bands converge for Mundelein Jazz Invitational
Forty jazz bands and combos from 20 area middle schools and high schools will perform and be judged during the Mundelein Jazz Invitational from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, with an awards presentation set for 6 p.m. Admission for the day is $5.
"The Mundelein Invitational Jazz Festival offers an opportunity for high school and middle school jazz bands/combos to experience both clinical and competitive aspects in equal measure and equal quality in order to better benefit the ensembles' needs," said Andy Sturgeon, who directs the MHS instrumental music program with Jerald Shelato.
According to Sturgeon, all performing ensembles will receive substantial clinic time with one (or more) of the clinicians.
Bands performing in the main auditorium will receive a 45-minute clinic after the performance, while bands performing in the smaller venues will have extended clinic time with the three jazz educators in those spaces.
A list of last year's judging panel is available on the Mundelein Invitational website, www.d120.org/activities/performing-arts/band/mundelein-invitational, which also lists the schedule of the daylong performances.
The adjudicators and clinicians comprise some of the most reputable jazz professionals in the Chicagoland area, including George Andrikokus, Alex Beltran, Tim Coffman, Mark Colby, Dana Hall, Bryan Itkowitz, Brian Jacobi, Bob Lark, Mike Lehman, Chris Madsen, Marlene Rosenburg and Bob Rzeszutko.
Guest artist The Heritage Jazz Orchestra will perform at 12:40 p.m. Led by Luke Malewicz, it is the premier repertory jazz orchestra in Chicago. The group was formed in 2016 with the intention of bringing the best talent from Chicago and exploring the classic big band repertoire.
Since its inception, the band has been featured regularly at many premier venues throughout Chicagoland, including Andy's Jazz Club, Winter's Jazz Club and Jazz Record Art Collective.
The group has recreated several albums by the Count Basie Orchestra and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. The HFO also engages in educational outreach with local organizations, including the Chicago Jazz Institute, and frequently holds clinics at local area high schools.
The Mundelein High School Jazz Orchestra will perform at 11:20 a.m.; the Mundelein High School Jazz Combo at 2 p.m.; the Mundelein High School Jazz Combo 2 at 3:30 p.m.; and the Mundelein High School Jazz Ensemble at 5:20 p.m.
Mundelein High School's feeder schools will perform on the following schedule:
West Oak Middle School Jazz Band at 8 a.m.; Fremont Grade 6 Jazz Band at 8 a.m.; Fremont Grade 7 Jazz Band at 8:45 a.m.; and Fremont Grade 8 Jazz Band at 9:30 a.m.