Salem High Jazz Band Wins Gold At State Final

SALEM, MA — Salem High School’s Jazz Band earned a gold medal last Saturday at the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education Festival state final at Norton High School, adding another top finish to a standout year for the school's student musicians.

The group's performance secured it a spot at the MAJE Gold Medal Showcase on May 3 at the Hatch Shell in Boston.

The latest honor followed another gold medal performance by the band at the MAJE Senior District Festival on March 4 at Reading High School.

Salem's music program has also collected other major recognitions this season, including All-State selections and a state championship for the marching band and colorguard.

"These kids genuinely love to play," said Ben Chertok, Coordinator of Music at SPS. "I look at them and I am so impressed by their musical curiosity and maturity. We push each other to grow our craft and that's something I don't take for granted.

"A core value of our music department is that success is defined by your best performance. That being said, it's always nice to perform and receive commentary from adjudicators that validates the effort that the students put in towards their achievement."

The Jazz Band performed "Basie Straight Ahead," arranged by Sammy Nestico, "The Mooche" by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills as arranged by Mark Taylor, and "Lil' Liza Jane," a traditional New Orleans second line arrangement arranged by Chris Sharp.

Soloists in "Basie Straight Ahead" were senior pianist Lucas Fox and senior tenor saxophonist Gavin Ryan.

"The Mooche" featured seniors Eden McClain on alto saxophone and Wyn Stevick on trumpet, with junior Finn Hanger on trombone.

Hanger and Ryan also performed solos. "Lil' Liza Jane" featured senior Camryn Franklin on clarinet, junior Ethan Roses on trumpet, and Hanger on trombone.

"For me personally, it's a full circle moment because this group of juniors and seniors are my first students who I've directed at both the middle and high school levels," Chertok said. "Together, we evolved and created what is now the JV (junior varsity) Jazz Band at the middle school in order to open up more opportunities for students interested in jazz to keep playing.

"The model had worked where I grew up and what has resulted is a hybrid middle school/high school group where there is simultaneous development of skills and peer-to-peer mentorship happening. I think that has certainly been one of several driving factors in the 'varsity' group's ability to raise the bar for the past few years."

Salem High percussionists, under the direction of Instrumental Music Teacher Jabari Tovar, placed first at the NESBA Winter Percussion and Guard Competition at Salem High School in New Hampshire.

Tovar highlighted the efforts of freshmen Nina Buono and Connor Franklin, junior Immanuel Romero, and senior Kaiser Sklar.

Five Salem High musicians, including Hanger and Ryan, will perform at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival on Saturday at the Hanover Theater in Worcester.

The Salem High School Band, Chorus and Orchestra will also perform at the All-City Concert on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the SHS M. Ruth Norton Auditorium.