Leskowicz, Paul, Music / Jazz Band

STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH SCHOOL

JAZZ BANDS

2023 Europe Jazz Band Tour Proposal

OVERVIEW

The State College Area High School Jazz Bands I & II - Admission is by audition to any band member grades 9-12. Auditions consist of knowledge of scales, prepared excerpts, and sight-reading. Improvisation is strongly encouraged for all students and is required for consideration to Jazz 1.

They have one after-school rehearsal each week beginning in November. Jazz 1 may occasionally have a second rehearsal scheduled depending on an upcoming performance.

The State College Area High School Jazz Band is among the finest in the United States with an International reputation for excellence. They have received 40 consecutive years of "Superior" ratings in festivals and competitions and made their third appearance at the PMEA State Conference in 2006. In 1992, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 the band toured Europe and has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, at Disneyland Paris, at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, at Jazz a Vienne and Jazz a Juan in France, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

In 1998,1999, 2006, and 2009 the band performed at Lincoln Center in New York City as finalists in the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition. The 2001, 2005, and 2008 band won the North American Music Festivals "Megafest" championship given to the highest scoring Jazz Ensemble from among their 20 festivals. The 2004 and 2009 Jazz Bands were named the "Most Outstanding Band" at the Mansfield University Jazz Festival.

The 2013 Jazz Band had the pleasure of working with Victor Goines through the Essentially Ellington Workshop series. The band also appeared at the Essentially Ellington Regional Festival at Temple University and was named "Outstanding Band" at the Worldstrides Music Festival in Toronto, Canada.

Mr. Leskowicz - Director of Jazz 1

Mr. Robinson - Director of Jazz 2

Full Band Rehearsals are once per week. During Nov., Dec., and Jan., Jazz 1 will have rehearsals twice per week.

TBD - 42nd State College Jazz Festival

TBD - State College District-wide JAZZ NIGHT featuring jazz bands from the middle and high schools

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PMEA AUDITION INFORMATION - LINKS

Previously shared. Coming to this site soon.

Listen to excerpts from our Essentially Ellington 2009 CD

Moon Over Cuba

Isfahan

Symphony In Riffs

SCAHS Jazz, France 2015 Noah Bollman soloist, France 2015


Jazz 1 with Paul Leskowicz and Victor Goines - JALC Workshop, NYC	Jazz Too with Rick Hirsch and Victor Goines - JALC Workshop, NYC

Members of the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Band work with jazz students	The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Band plays for SC Jazz students
The 2009 Jazz Band before their Essentially Ellington Performance	Performing for Boalsburg's "Day in Towne"

The 2009 Jazz Band at the Montreux Jazz Festival	Performance at the 2009 Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy

Wycliffe Gordon clinic	The 2010 Jazz Band at Swing Central in Savannah