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IAJE-NY FESTIVAL DATE

Oneida High School (25 miles east of Syracuse, NY) will host their 20th annual Oneida Jazz Festival, Thursday and Friday March 8 & 9, 2007.

Again this year the festival will be an IAJE-sanctioned event with nearly 40 middle and high school performing groups, nationally- known guest artists, educational clinics and a Friday night performance by the Director's Big Band featuring each of the guest artists.

Thursday will feature elementary & middle school jazz ensembles and all jazz combos. Each group will receive an on-stage clinic and the guest artists perform with the Oneida HS Jazz Ensemble at the end of the day. Performances begin at 8:30 AM and the day concludes at 6 PM.

Friday features high school jazz ensemble performances all day, a clinic hour in the late afternoon (clinician for each section), more evening performances and the Director's Big Band with the guest artists. The performances start at 8:00 AM and awards are at 10 PM. Each group receives taped comments from the judges as well as a brief off-stage clinic. Ensembles are grouped into classes according to school size. An honorary all-star band is selected for each class (students receive a certificate); groups receive a rating of gold, silver or bronze or may elect to receive comments only; there are additional awards for the outstanding sections, IAJE talent citations, a $250 IAJE summer jazz camp award and the Frank Mantooth Outstanding Musician of the Festival Award.

Guest artists will be announced in mid-December. Registration forms and detailed information will be available at: www.oneidany.org or contact festival director Tim Watson at twatson@oneidacsd.org