CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TOP ENSEMBLES!

BIG BAND DIVISION
First Place: Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA)
Second Place: Rio Americano High School (Sacramento, CA)
Third Place: Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, NV)

High School Big Band Awards/Scholarships
50% Berklee Summer Performance Program:
Sean Ritchey, guitar, Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA)
University of the Pacific Summer Camp ($300):
Ryan McCray, trombone, Valley Christian High School (San Jose, CA)

Outstanding Soloist Awards
Alex Milstead, alto/baritone sax, Beaverton Arts & Communication Magnet Academy (Beaverton, OR)
Kevin Early, trumpet, Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, NV)
Justin Richey, bass, Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA)
Dinos San Pedro, piano, Rio Americano High School (Sacramento, CA)
Cashel Barnett, drums, Rio American High School (Sacramento, CA)
John Egizi, trombone, Los Angeles High School for the Arts
(Los Angeles, CA)
Nick Tulli, tenor sax, Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, NV)

COMBO DIVISION
First Place: Acalanes High School (Lafayette, CA)
Second Place: Los Angeles High School for the Arts (Los Angeles, CA)
Third Place: Buchanan High School “A” (Clovis, CA)

Combo Awards & Scholarships
Berklee 35% Summer Performance Program:
Elliana Athayde, bass, Acalanes High School (Lafayette, CA)

Outstanding Soloist Awards
Sean Richey, guitar, Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA)
Gurbir Dhilton, alto, Acalanes High School (Lafayette, CA)
Michael Gurrola, bass, Los Angeles High School for the Arts
(Los Angeles, CA)

VOCAL DIVISION
First Place: Folsom High School (Folsom, CA)
Second Place: Los Angeles High School for the Arts (Los Angeles, CA)
Third Place:Downey High School (Downey, CA) and Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Choir (Goleta, CA)

Vocal Awards & Scholarships
50% Berklee Summer Performance Program:
K.C. Boyce, Folsom HS Jazz Choir “A” (Folsom, CA)

Outstanding Soloist Awards
Tyler Robinson, Folsom High School Jazz Choir A (Folsom, CA)
Miyako Sasaki , Aptos High School (Aptos, CA)
Evan Miller, Downey High School (Downey, CA)
Dante DeSalvo, Aptos High School (Aptos, CA)

CONGLOMERATE DIVISION
First Place: Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra (Portland, OR)
Second Place: The Jazzschool Studio Band (Berkeley, CA)
Third Place: SFJAZZ High School All Stars (San Francisco, CA)

Conglomerate Awards & Scholarships
Berklee 35% Summer Performance Program:
Alex Milsted, tenor saxophone, Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra
(Portland, OR)

Outstanding Soloist Awards
Aaron Bahr, trumpet, The Jazzschool Studio Band (Berkeley, CA)
Hailey Niswanger, alto saxophone, Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra (Portland, OR)
Danny Merteas, piano, SFJAZZ High School All Stars (San Francisco, CA)

COLLEGE BIG BAND DIVISION
First Place: California State University Northridge (Northridge, CA)
Second Place: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Third Place: California State University Long Beach (Long Beach, CA)

Outstanding Soloist Awards
Jason Moss, tenor saxophone, Florida International University
(Miami, FL)
Harrison Kirt, trombone, California State University Northridge (Northridge, CA)
Ashley Baker, alto sax, Florida International University (Miami, FL)
Sam Griffith, trombone, Sacramento State University (Sacramento, CA)
Quentin Joseph, drums, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

BIG BAND COMPOSITION COMPETITION
First Place: Sean Richey, guitar, Buchanan High School
(Clovis, CA) - “40 Days and 40 Nights”

Honorable Mention: Arian Shafiee, guitar, Skyline High School
(Oakland, CA) - "Geisha"

Honorable Mention: Aaron Bahr, trumpet, Campolindo High School
(Moraga, CA) - “Circular Logic"

MJF JAZZ EDUCATION AWARDS
The following awards are given in the name of former Monterey Jazz Festival Board members as a tribute to the tremendous impact each one of them had on the development of MJF’s Jazz Education Programs.

2008 Ruth Fenton Award for Music Teacher of the Year
David Hoffman, Pacific Grove High School

2008 Howard Bucquet Award for Vocalist of the Year
Simone van Seenus, Carmel High School

2008 Bill Jackson Award for Instrumental Student Musician of the Year
Conor Jones, trumpet, Carmel High School

2008 Dr. Joseph Turner Award for Most Improved Instrumental Student of the Year
Patrice Ware, drums, Seaside High School

2008 Kai Nobusada Award for Up and Coming Vocalist of the Year
Lia Donovan, trumpet/vocals, Monterey High School