BIG WIN FOR WELLESLEY HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND AT BERKLEE FESTIVAL

The acclaimed Wellesley High School Two O’Clock Jazz Band took first place honors at the annual Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival this past weekend. Their award-winning set included works by Horace Silver, Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams. Wellesley seniors Brian Rolincik, Jack Griffin, and Ethan Watson were also recognized with Outstanding Musicianship awards.

Following the awards ceremony, the Two O'Clock Jazz Band performed an encore of Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie" at the Winners' Showcase concert at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Hynes Convention Center. 

Wellesley High School competed against over 200 bands featuring nearly 3,000 students from 13 states across the country. The largest event of its kind, the Berklee High School Jazz Festival is in its 46th year.

As part of the award, the WHS Performing Arts Department received over $8,000 in scholarship funds for music students to attend Berklee’s Summer Performance Program. This spring, Berklee will also send, free of charge, one of their jazz faculty members to give a master clinic at Wellesley High.

Band Director Steven Scott lauded the musicians’ “level of improvised jazz soloing as well as our overall ensemble sound, drive and expressiveness.”  "I could not be more proud of the teamwork, leadership and musicianship of this incredible band.  Each section has gone above and beyond to find a more refined and nuanced level of performance. Students worked tirelessly in rehearsals and student-run weekend sectionals to weave their own interpretation into each of these timeless compositions."

Two O'Clock soloists in the Berklee competition included Brian Rolincik (trombone), Jack Griffin (bass), Ian Hoffman (piano), Graham Hulsey (tenor sax), Ben Scammell (trumpet), Ian Kinney (clarinet), Peter Garland (alto sax), and Matt Honan (alto sax).

For more information, contact http://festival.berkleejazz.org