CENTRAL HIGH JAZZ FESTIVAL SATURDAY

There's a good reason Southeast Missouri hasn't been a hotbed of high school jazz musicians heretofore: Most of the area's high school band directors were trained at Southeast Missouri State University, a school which long lacked a jazz band itself.

Now that Barry Bernhardt, Southeast's director of bands, has made jazz an integral part of the school's music program, the level of jazz in the high schools is bound to pick up, says Ron Nall, band director at Central High School.

The current level of jazz in the schools can be ascertained Saturday at the 16th annual Cape Central Jazz Festival. The free festival, to be held in the school auditorium and in the old gym, will start at 10 a.m. and continue until the awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

Eleven high school and four junior high jazz bands will perform along with the Southeast Missouri State University Jazz Band. Each will be allowed 25 minutes for set-up and performance.

The bands will be evaluated by four judges: Robert Boedger of St. Louis, Joe Weber of St. Charles, John Kinneson of Ste. Genevieve and Bernhardt.

Trophies will be given to outstanding soloists. A one-year, half-tuition music scholarship to Southeast will be awarded to the festival's outstanding musician.

Nall, who was educated at Southeast during the jazz-free days of Leroy Mason, has put Southeast and North Texas State University graduate Mark Ellison in charge of the Central High School Jazz Band this year.

Ellison, a percussionist, has assembled a big band of 25 or so and is leaning heavily on traditional Big Band music rather than newer works.

As it does on the athletic fields, a friendly rivalry exists between the Central and Jackson bands. Jackson, directed by Pat Schwent, was exceedingly strong last year, with three performers winning All-State honors.

"Jackson has a great band program," Nall said. "They don't emphasize marching like we do, but they're concert and jazz bands are just outstanding."

Festival Schedule

CHS Auditorium

Time School Director

10 a.m. Doniphan Don Bevfoden

10:30 Charleston Chris Starr

11 Ste. Genevieve Charles Crouther

11 Potosi Brad Glore

1 p.m. Northwest of House Springs Jeff Melsha

1 Eureka Joe Pappas

2 North County of Desloge Dan Schunks

2:30 Windsor David Butler

3 St. Charles West Jeff Fuchs

3:30 Jackson Pat Schwent

4 Cape Central Mark Ellison

4:30 SEMO Barry Bernhardt

5 Awards ceremony