Accolades

2012 Awards

Campana Jazz Festival – Feb 12, 2012

Another show of hard work and enthusiasm pays off!  Congratulations to everyone.

The 37th Annual Campana Jazz Festival is sponsored by the Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, CA.

HS Jazz Ensemble:

The Ensemble takes 1st place in the HS AA division and received section awards for Rhythm and Trumpets.

HS Lab Band:

The Lab Band takes 1st place in the HS B division and received section awards for Rhythm.

JH Studio Band:

The Studio Band placed 3rd in the MS Big Band division and received section awards for Rhythm.

Jazz Combo:

The Jazz Combo took 1st place in the HS Combo division.

Individual Performance Awards:

• Angie Chen
• Howard Dietz
• Matt Gallo
• Theron Kay
• Seiji Yamashita
• Kanoa Mendenall
• Garrett Morris
• Thomas Yiengst

Folsom Jazz Festival – Jan 28, 2012

The Jazz Ensemble takes the sweepstakes award for high school band and the Jazz Choir the sweepstakes award for choirs.

HS Jazz Ensemble:

The Ensemble took 1st place in High School Jazz division A earning the 3rd highest score for all High School Divisions and ended as the sweepstakes winner for all High School Bands.

HS Jazz Lab:

The Jazz Lab took 2nd place in High School Jazz division B.

JH Studio Band:

The Studio band took 1st place in Middle School divison MS.

HS Ensemble Combo:

Ensemble Combo took 4th place in combo division A.

JH Studio Combo:

The JH Combo took 4th place in combo division B.  They were the only junior high combo in this division!

Jazz Choir:

The Jazz Choir took 3rd place in Jazz Choir division JCA and ended with as the sweepstake winner for all Jazz Choirs

Solo Awards:

2010-2011 Awards

Cal Poly All State Festival Jazz Band

In April, Ian Fong, Ryan McCray, Spencer Brodhead and Daniel de la Cruz were chosen to participate in the 2011 Cal Poly All State Festival Jazz Band in San Luis Obispo. The Festival Jazz Band was composed of 16 talented musicians from around the state and was directed and accompanied by Mark Levine on the piano.

Reno Jazz Festival – Apr 9, 2011

HS Jazz Combo:

1st place in the Combo Division & a Command Performance. Perfect scores from two judges. The Combo performed in the Awards Showcase later that evening. They competed against two great jazz combos from Bishop O’Dowd high school and the Stillwater Foundation from Colorado.

At the festival, professional jazz drummer and Christian Gregg Bissonette came backstage to meet the VCHS performers. Gregg is also founder of a group known as “Drummers for Jesus.” He is an instructor at Cal State Northridge.

Individual Awards:

Ryan McCray won the outstanding high school trombone soloist award of the festival. All five VCHS combo musicians (Denise, Jojo, Ryan, Wyatt, Howard and Spencer) also won solo awards.

Fullerton Jazz Festival – Apr 2, 2011

HS Jazz Ensemble:

3rd place in the Heavy Division.

HS Jazz Combo:

1st place in the Combo division.

Individual Awards:

Ryan McCray won the top soloist award of the festival for his trombone solos. The award was a full scholarship, valued at $2,500, to the Idyllwild Summer Jazz Workshop in July, 2011, one of the most prestigious jazz workshops in California.

Other Solo awards: Ian Fong (saxophone), Howard Dietz (saxophone), and Denise Tran (piano).

Campana Jazz Festival – Feb 12, 2011

Lab Band:

1st place in the “B” band division. A unanimous superior rating!

Lab Band:

“Outstanding Rhythm Section” award.

Latin Jazz Ensemble:

1st place in the “A” band division. A unanimous superior rating!

Latin Jazz Ensemble:

“Outstanding Rhythm Section” award.

Combo:

1st place in the Combo division. An unanimous superior rating!

Individual awards:

• Bria Alexander: Lafayette Jazz Workshop Scholarship, Outstanding Soloist Scholarship
• Daniel de la Cruz: Outstanding Soloist Scholarship
• Howie Dietz: Outstanding Soloist Scholarship
• Brandon Mausler: Lafayette Jazz Workshop Scholarship, Outstanding Soloist Scholarship
• Ryan McCray: La Honda Music Camp Scholarship
• Dimitri Morris: La Honda Music Camp Scholarship, Outstanding Soloist Scholarship
• Johanne Ramirez: Lafayette Jazz Workshop Scholarship
• Denise Tran: Outstanding Soloist Scholarship

Folsom Jazz Festival – Jan 22, 2011

Jazz Ensemble:

1st place in the “A” band division (Finalist).

Jazz Lab:

1st place in the “C” band division.

Studio Band:

8th place in the middle school division.

Combo:

2nd place in the Combo B division. 3rd place Overall Standings.

Individual Awards:

All five VCHS combo musicians (Denise, Jojo, Ian, Wyatt, Howard, and Spencer) won solo awards.

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