Local student to represent Illinois In Music for All's 2019 Jazz Band of America
Kellin Hanas, a Junior at Wheaton North High School, has been selected by Music for All to perform in one of the nation's finest honor ensembles, the 2019 Jazz Band of America.
Hanas was selected from numerous applicants from across the nation for membership in this prestigious honor ensemble.
Hanas is a member of the Wheaton North marching band, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, pep band and jazz combo under the direction of Kent Krause and Michael Klos. Kellin is also a member of the prestigious Youth Jazz Ensemble of Dupage, under the direction of Robert Blazek.
Hanas, who plays the trumpet, was selected as a member of the Jazz Band of America by audition. The Jazz Band of America is recognized as one of the finest scholastic ensembles in America. They will rehearse and perform in concert as part of the Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, on March 13-16 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Jazz Band of America concert will be at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Clowes Memorial Hall, located on the campus of Butler University.
The concert will open with the national Honor Orchestra of America, then conclude with the Jazz Band of America. Shelly Berg, Dean, Frost School of Music, University of Miami, is the band's conductor. The 19 student members of the 2019 Jazz Band represent 16 schools from nine states. Members will also participate in instrumental master classes, gala Festival events, and socials.
In Kellin's musical career, she has already accomplished many things, such as being selected as a Grammy Award Band Jazz Session finalist, an Illinois Music Education Association All-State selectee for jazz trumpet for both 2018, and 2019, and won a chair in the Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage as lead trumpet. You can follow her musical endeavors on Instagram, @kellinhanasmusic.
"To be selected from among their peers for membership in this national ensemble is a great achievement and honor," says Debbie Laferty Asbill, vice president of marketing and communications for Music for All. "The 2018 Jazz Band of America members are ambassadors of America's music programs, as well as their states, schools and communities."
The Music for All National Festival includes the National Concert Band Festival, the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, the Chamber Music National Festival, the Orchestra America National Festival, and the inaugural National Choir Festival, all taking place simultaneously in major venues throughout Indianapolis. The Festival includes performances by 71 high school and middle school ensembles from across America in addition to the Jazz Band of America, Honor Band of America, and the Honor Orchestra of America.
In its 28th year, the Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha is an annual program of Music for All, one of the nation's largest and most influential organizations in support of active music making, headquartered in Indianapolis.
Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for students, senior citizens, and groups of 10+. Tickets are available through the Music for All office and www.musicforall.org.
A full schedule of Festival ensemble concerts, times and locations is available at www.musicforall.org/festival, or for more information call (800) 848-BAND (2263).
About Music for All
Since 1975, Music for All, through its Music for All, Bands of America, Orchestra America, and choir programs, has been a destination and set the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance and music education advocacy. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization, Music for All's mission is to create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all.
Music for All's vision is to be a catalyst to ensure that every child in America has access and opportunity for active music making in his or her scholastic environment. Music for All serves more than 500,000 participants annually with programs that include 30+ annual events, including the Bands of America Grand National Championships and Regional Championships for marching bands, the Music for All Summer Symposium camp for students and teachers, the Music for All National Festival and Affiliate Regional Music Festivals for concert bands, orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, and the national honor concert band, jazz band, orchestra, and the Bands of America Honor Band that will march for the fifth time in the Rose Parade in 2021.
Sponsor Information
Music for All efforts are supported through sponsorships, including current partnerships with National Presenting Sponsor: Yamaha Corporation of America; Official Uniform Sponsor: Fred J. Miller, Inc.; Official Student Travel Partner: Music Travel Consultants; Official Performance Equipment Sponsor: Wenger Corporation; Corporate Sponsors: Ball State University, United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Zildjian and Vic Firth Company, Visit Indy and the City of Indianapolis, and Strategic Advocacy Partner: NAMM; Associate Sponsors: Delivra, Vandoren, Director's Showcase International, REMO, Tresona Multimedia, and Woodwind & Brasswind.
Music for All is also supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Ball Brothers Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc, George and Frances Ball Foundation, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation Inc., and Arthur Jordan Foundation.