Jazz concert a learning tool
Jazz musicians from Department of Defense Dependents Schools across Europe are preparing for the 2003 Jazz Seminar concert to be held in England.
The 19th edition of the concert — which will feature 30 musicians who were selected after auditions at their high schools — will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wycombe Swan Theater in High Wycombe. Admission is free.
The Big Band Jazz Ensemble will be conducted by Jiggs Whigham, a jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and educator. He is currently serving as guest conductor at Indiana University and Berlin University in Germany. He is also conductor of the BBC Big Band Jazz Orchestra.
Assisting Whigham during the seminar leading up to the concert are Kent Yardley of Ramstein High School, Germany, who is serving as music director, and Jeff Pellaton of Würzburg High School and Wayne Fears of Bitburg Middle School, both in Germany. They will serve as assistant music directors.
Students began preparing for the concert Saturday at London Central High School.
During the five days of rehearsals and training, the 30 musicians will learn more about jazz and the “big band” sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lennie Niehaus and many others.
The concert is open to the local British community as well as the U.S. military community.
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