4/24/11 UPDATE

JAZZ BAND at RAIDER PARK

As of tonight, the Bats and Balls for Batson fundraising event at Raider Park tomorrow, April 26, is still on, dependent on the weather. Event organizer Joe Maxwell will make a final decision by noon on Tuesday, and we will share that information with Jazz Band members.

If the weather cooperates, all Jazz Band members should be at Raider Park by 5:10, in white jazz band t-shirts and shorts or jeans, with horns.

All families and friends are invited to this fun event, with all donations going to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

BAND BANQUET

All band families, including Sixth Grade Band families, should have received an email from Band Booster President Martha Ray about the JA Band Banquet on May 19 at the Colonial Country Club.

We encourage everyone to come out for a nice meal and more importantly for the opportunity to recognize all of the band members for their hard work and accomplishments this year, including special recognition for our two JA Band seniors, Bryant Hutchins and Alex Ray. 

The evening's activities will include the Jazz Band's performance at 6:30, a sit-down dinner at 7:00, a retrospective slide show of the year, and awards and recognition for all band members.

Please let Martha Ray (marthamray@yahoo.com) know if you have questions, and RSVP (click HERE for a ticket order form) by May 11th.

JA BAND PROGRAM SPRING CONCERT

Mark your calendars for the JA Band Program Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 10, in the PAC. 

The Sixth Grade Band will perform beginning at 7:00, followed by the Concert Band, which will present Music of the Movies, in collaboration with Sim Dulaney and the JA Cinematic Arts Department. Don’t miss this multi-media event. 

SUMMER SCHEDULE

For color guard members, the Jackson Academy Dance Camp will be June 1-3, 12:30 - 4:30 each day, in the gym. The cost per student is $75. Click HERE for a flyer and registration form.

All JA Band members are offered four free private music lessons over the summer. 

BAND CAMP is Monday - Friday, July 25-29 and August 1-5, 8:30 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 5:00 each day on campus. Our show designer, Lenny Westmoreland of Croatan, NC, will be at camp to teach the choreography and drill for the entire competition show during these two weeks. Since he will tailor the drill to the talents and capabilities of each student, and the show music will also be taught, it is vital that all band members be present each day of camp.

FALL 2011

Music for the Fall 2011 competition show is being arranged, featuring the music of legendary British rock band the Rolling Stones.

Plans for the fall season schedule are being finalized, including a trip to the Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional Championship, October 13-16. In addition to the championship events, we will visit Six Flags, the Gateway Arch, and other local attractions.

4/17/11 UPDATE

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Martha Ray

Please check your E-mail this week for important information about the JA Band Banquet and 2011-2012 Band Booster officer elections.  

The Band Banquet will be held in the ballroom at Colonial Country Club on May 19th beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 per person (including students). Each band student, including all Sixth Grade Band members, will be recognized for his or her contribution to the band.  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

JAZZ BAND at RAIDER PARK

The Jazz Band will be performing at Raider Park on Tuesday, April 26, at 5:40, as part of the "Bats & Balls for Batson" fundraiser. 

Activities begin at 4:00, and in addition to music will include baseball & softball skill sessions, a crawfish boil, and games for elementary students. All donations will benefit the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

Jazz Band members should report to Raider Park, with horns, by 5:10 on April 26. Attire is shorts or jeans with the white Jazz Band t-shirt.

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY JAZZ FEST

JA Band alumni Derrick Marchant (Ole Miss), Corey Carter (USM), and Adam Ray (Ole Miss), performed with their respective university jazz ensembles at the 31st Annual Alcorn Jazz Fest in Vicksburg on Saturday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, April 26 - Jazz Band at Raider Park, 5:10 report time, 5:40 performance

Tuesday, May 10 - JA Band Program Spring Concert - Sixth Grade Band & Concert Band, 7:00, PAC

Thursday, May 19 - JA Band Program Banquet, Sixth Grade Band & Concert Band, Colonial Country Club, 6:30 Jazz Band performance, 7:00 Banquet

Wednesday - Friday, June 1-3 - Color Guard Camp, JA

Monday - Friday, July 25-29 and August 1-5 - BAND CAMP, JA

4/10/11 UPDATE

JA CONCERT BAND

Congratulations to the JA Band for completing another all-superior year, with I ratings from all judges in all captions at the MAIS Concert Band Festival on Friday here at JA.


The band's performance was enthusiastically received by the audience and judges David Willson (Ole Miss), Elva Kaye Lance (MSU), and Mohamad Schuman (USM), who had many positive comments.


Thank you to the Band Boosters for providing lunch for the students on Friday. Special thanks to Kate Bowman for taking time from her day to pick up and deliver lunches for the judges and helpers at the Festival.


The Concert Band will now spend class time preparing for the Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 10, at 7:00 in the JA PAC. Look for an exciting and original program for the concert, which will also include performances by the Jazz Band and the Sixth Grade Band.


A few photos from the Concert Festival:

JA JAZZ BAND

Congratulations as well to the members of the JA Jazz Band for a rousing performance at the Township Jazz Festival on a beautiful day Saturday in Ridgeland.


Photos from the Township Jazz Festival:

JA Band Seniors Alex Ray & Bryant Hutchins:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, May 10 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, 7:00, PAC
Thursday, May 19 - JA Band Program Banquet, Colonial Country Club


Wednesday - Friday, June 1-3 - Color Guard Camp

Monday - Friday, July 25-29 and August 1-5 - Band Camp

4/3/11 UPDATE

Congratulations to the members of the Jackson Independent Winter Guard for finishing their season as SILVER MEDALISTS at the MIA Championships at Ridgeland HS on Saturday. 

Click on the FACEBOOK link above to see a video of the guard's performance at Ridgeland.

The guard finished second overall out of 35 units at championships, only 1.2 points behind Itawamba Community College, whom they had finished over six points behind three weeks ago. These girls worked hard all season to develop skills and improve their performance. Great season, Jackson Independent!

A few photos of the large crowd at Ridgeland on Saturday:

JA CONCERT BAND

Our final evening concert band rehearsal is Tuesday, April 5, from 7:00 - 8:30 in the PAC

 

The MAIS Concert Band Festival will be this Friday, April 8, in the JA Performing Arts Center. Here is the schedule of performances:

9:00 - Hillcrest Christian Middle School Band
9:30 - Jackson Prep Band
10:00 - Washington School Band
10:30 - Lamar Christian School Band
11:00 - Hillcrest Christian School Band
11:30 - Copiah Academy Band
BREAK
1:00 - Starkville Academy Band
1:30 - Pillow Academy Band
2:00 - JACKSON ACADEMY BAND

Students will need to bring black concert attire to school on Friday morning. Some of the students have signed up to help at the event throughout the morning. All band members will report to the Band Hall at lunch to change and travel to the PAC for warmup.

All family members and friends are invited to attend the performance.

JA JAZZ BAND

The Jazz Band will perform at the Township Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 8, at the Township at Colony Park (click on the link for map).

The band will perform at 12:00. Band members should report to the stage at the festival by 11:30. We will announce attire for the concert in class this week.

Students and families are encouraged to stay after the performance to enjoy the free festival, which includes music from the Madison Central HS Jazz Band, the Terry HS Jazz Ensemble, Latinismo, the Fusion All-Stars with Lisa Palmer and "Tiger" Rogers, the Vamps, and the headliner for this year's festival, the Jason Marsalis Quartet. Click on this link for more information: TOWNSHIP JAZZ FESTIVAL

In addition to the festival on Saturday, students are encouraged to attend the JASON MARSALIS MASTER CLASS, a free clinic at the Madison Central HS Band Hall on Sunday, April 10, at 2:00 pm. Here is a flyer about this unique opportunity for students to learn from this accomplished musician:

SIXTH GRADE BAND NEWS

We are very pleased with the progress the Sixth Grade Band members have made this school year and look forward to having some of them join the JA Band for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Sixth Grade Band will perform at the JA Band Program Spring Concert on May 10. One of the pieces the band will perform, Oliver, the Floppy-Eared Dog, has been written for them by composer Nick Baratta. 

All Sixth Grade Band members and families are also invited to the JA Band Banquet on May 19, where all band members will be recognized for their efforts throughout the year.

Look for further details about the Band Banquet in the coming weeks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, April 5 - Full Band Rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Friday, April 8 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, 2:00 Performance time
Saturday, April 9 - Jazz Band at Township Jazz Festival, Township at Colony Park, 12:00 Performance time
Sunday, April 10 - Jason Marsalis Master Class, Madison Central HS Band Hall, 2:00
Tuesday, May 10 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 19 - JA Band Program Band Banquet, Colonial Country Club

Tuesday - Friday, May 31 - June 3 - Color Guard Camp
Monday - Friday, July 25 - 29 and August 1-5, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day - BAND CAMP  

JA BAND FAMILY NEWS

 

Congrats to JA Band visual coordinator Steve McCartney and his family as they welcome the newest family member, Luke Christopher, who was born on Thursday, weighing in at 6 lb. 13 oz. Luke joins brothers Fisher, Ethan, and Matthew. Best wishes to all of the McCartneys!