CALL FOR ENTRIES! Third Annual Ventura Music Festival Student Jazz Competition

Five high school students will vie for the chance to play with Latin music legend Pete Escovedo when the Ventura Music Festival hosts its third annual Student Jazz Competition on Jan. 10. Latin-jazz percussionist Escovedo will appear with his ensemble at Ventura High School Theatre on Feb. 13.

(VENTURA, CA) For the third consecutive year, the Ventura Music Festival will sponsor a student jazz competition open to all high school students in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.

The live concert competition marks a shift from previous years, when students submitted CDs of their work and judges selected a winner. This year, judges will pick five finalists from submitted CDs. Finalists will perform two songs live on stage with the Ventura-based jazz trio, Coda.

Last year´s winner, Michael Peddycoart of Simi Valley High School, performed with saxophonist and jazz legend Paquito D'Rivera, and in 2008, Jessica Molina performed with percussionist Poncho Sanchez.

The live competition with finalists is at 3 pm on Jan. 10, 2010 at the Laurel Theater (home of the Rubicon Theatre), 1006 East Main St., Ventura.

The winner of the competition will play on stage with Escovedo, receive a $500 scholarship and complimentary tickets for his or her entire high school jazz band to the Escovedo show. Second place will be awarded a $250 scholarship and third place will receive a $150 scholarship. Both second and third place winners receive complimentary tickets to the live competition and Escovedo concert.

Deadline for submission is Dec. 18, 2009. To enter, students must record one song (no vocals, instruments only). For details, visit http://www.venturamusicfestival.org/Education.html and click on the 2010 Student Jazz Competition link, or call Jenny Toder at the Festival office at (805) 648-3146. All students who participate in the competition process will receive discount tickets to Escovedo´s Feb.13 concert.

For more information about Escovedo and his music go to www.peteescovedo.com.

About the Ventura Music Festival

Founded in 1992, the Ventura Music Festival, a nonprofit 501(3), presents concerts featuring nationally known singers, instrumentalists, ensembles and chamber orchestras performing in various historic settings throughout Ventura.

Each year in May, the 10-day festival focuses on a specific theme, amplified by artists and programming. Today, the festival stands as one of Ventura County´s signature events, attracting upwards of 7,000 concert-goers.

For its 16th season, the Ventura Music festival welcomes guitarist Sharon Isbin, violinist Itzhak Perlman, Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, Calefax Reed Quintet, Escher String Quartet, pianist Yeol Eum Som, and Jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo.

Through its Education Outreach Program, the festival reaches out to thousands of students each year, working within the school systems to bring music to the schools. Since 2007, over 11,000 students and youths have had the opportunity to be a part of Music in the Schools, with more than 25 schools and youth facilities visited each year throughout the City and County of Ventura. Information: www.venturamusicfestival.org, or (805) 648-3146.

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