On Saturday, February 2, 2013, The School of Music held The Festival of Jazz Bands.
The Festival of Jazz Bands is an effort by the Jazz/Band program to support musical instruction for high school students within the Miami-Dade public school system. Several local area high school jazz big bands were hosted as they performed their festival pieces whilst being critiqued and work-shopped by faculty. Participating schools included Hialeah Gardens, Felix Varela, Palmetto, New World School of the Arts, Robert Morgan, Mater Academy, Miami Senior High, and Ronald Reagan-Doral.
After a day of workshop sessions, high school students were invited to solo with The FIU Studio Jazz Big Band for a concert in the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center that was free and open to the public.
After an extremely successful weekend, plans to continue the festival will ensue for next year. Schools wishing to participate next year, may contact Jamie Ousley, Professor of Jazz Bass, at jamie@jamieousley.com.
Click here to view photos of the festival.
