DGS Jazz Band Selected for NYC Jazz Festival

Jazz Ensemble is NYC-bound.

The group has been chosen as one of 15 finalists in the 16th annual "Essentially Ellington" High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, which will be held in New York City from May 12 to 14. 

The finalists were chosen from 110 schools who submitted audition tapes by members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

 A professional musician from that orchestra will visit South in the coming months to "mentor and work with the students in the jazz ensemble and prepare them for the festival," according to a district release.

The NYC festival will include workshops, jam sessions, and of course, the competition. The bands who place first, second and third in the competition will perform with Wynton Marsalis, a Grammy Award winning trumpet player and director of the Lincoln Center Orchestra.

“Being accepted to this festival is akin to reaching the jazz performance summit for a high school jazz ensemble," said South High School Fine Arts Chair Glenn Williams in the release. "This represents the pinnacle in performance proficiency for these student musicians."

Students need to raise money to pay for the trip. Anyone can sponsor the jazz band -- just contact Williams. Mark and Pat Samel, who are hosting their annual "Spirit of Music" fundraiser in honor of their son, Michael David Samel, have pledged to donate $2,500 to the students.