The Buchanan High School jazz program in Clovis, California was founded by Paul Shaghoian in 1991. Since its inception, the groups in the program have been on the forefront of student jazz ensembles in the state. The premiere ensemble in the jazz program is the Jazz Ensemble ‘A’, which is comprised of twenty of the finest jazz musicians in the school’s instrumental program. In 2004, Paul Lucckesi took directorship of the jazz program and has since lead the band to win two DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, earned the runner-up position at the 2007 Monterey Next Generation Festival, and won first place in the Big Band category at the Next Generation and Reno Jazz Festivals in 2008.

Over the years, the group has recorded six full-length studio albums; the most recent will be released in December 2008. Past recordings have showcased arrangements and original pieces written for the band and have featured such professional jazz musicians as Michael Davis on trombone, Peter Epstein on saxophone and George Stone on piano.

The ensemble has performed throughout California and has appeared at such festivals as the Reno, San Joaquin Valley and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and has additionally performed for countless educators and jazz fans at conferences in California, Georgia and New York.

The Buchanan Jazz Ensemble ‘A’ has shared the stage with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, including trumpeters Brian Lynch and Terell Stafford; trombonist Michael Davis; and saxophonists Tim Ries and Lanny Morgan. The group has premiered works commissioned by James Miley, Mike Dana, Craig Von Berg, Kerry Marsh and George Stone.

The Buchanan Jazz Ensemble ‘A’ has consistently garnered national attention by earning DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards for top high school jazz band or studio orchestra an unprecedented thirteen times.

	Sunday Afternoon - September 21, 2008 / 12:30pm
	Arena / Jimmy Lyons Stage