Jazzed up in Beavercreek

BEAVERCREEK, OHIO (WDTN) - Beavercreek High School's Weekend of Jazz has outdone itself again with a dynamite line-up of superstars including Tito Puente Jr. and his Orchestra and Five Play.

The first annual Weekend of Jazz festival was held in March 2001. The festival was the dream of Douglas McCullough, Director of Bands at Beavercreek High School. Doug made a commitment to the city’s Board of Education and the citizens of Beavercreek to use the new BHS Alumni Auditorium to benefit the entire community.

Hence, this annual event held the first weekend of each March, is entering it ninth year and is getting stronger each year. In 2006 the Mayor of Beavercreek proclaimed the first weekend of each March to be Beavercreek Jazz Weekend.

The Weekend of Jazz promotes music education for middle school, and junior and senior high school students from all over Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Jazz bands and combos from schools in this region come together in Beavercreek, Ohio to perform in exhibition.

A panel of professional jazz musicians and music educators critique each concert and the student bands have the opportunity to attend clinics for one-on-one advice and feedback from one of the panel members. While there is a certain element of informal competition among the student bands, the emphasis is always on music instruction and learning.

For this years super line-up and tickets, log on to www.WeekendOfJazz.org