Jazz festival features local students

LIBERTY, NY — The Liberty Central School Department of Music will host the 14th annual Liberty Jazz Festival, to be held on Saturday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium. The festival will feature high school and middle school jazz ensembles from Liberty and Monticello school districts. The students will also have the opportunity to participate in an afternoon clinic (beginning at 3:00 p.m.) with a renowned jazz educator “in a non-competitive, constructive format,” according to festival co-chairman and Liberty High School Band Director Dan McConnell.

This year’s clinician is pianist, composer and recording artist Chris Parker, head of Jazz Studies at Orange County Community College in Middletown. A New York Chancellor’s Award winner, Parker regularly conducts professional clinics in jazz performance including an annual clinic and performance with saxophonist Chris Vadala of the Chuck Mangione Band. He has an extensive repertoire of original compositions including classical pieces. Parker’s latest CD of original jazz compositions, “Late in Lisbon,” is getting substantial airplay nationwide.

The suggested donation for the concert is $5, with a maximum $20 for a family of four or more. Donations will benefit the music scholarship fund and will help to defray the cost of the festival. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

For more email or siegelgar@libertyk12.org or call 845/292-5400, ext. 5117.