A very jazzy scene

Marisa O’Neil

Big-band music filled the Newport-Mesa Christian Center on Thursday

for the High School Jazz Band Festival.

Aspiring jazz musicians showed their stuff to a panel of judges at

Vanguard University’s second annual festival. The event featured

students from 10 local intermediate and high schools, including in

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, as well as home-schooled children.

“I thought is was an excellent opportunity to get a lot of schools

together, schools that normally are not involved with the larger jazz

festivals that cater to more experienced bands,” said Darrel Gardner,

director of the Vanguard University Jazz Band.

Bands played three songs each for the judges, who are all

professional studio musicians. Rather than having the bands compete

against one another, the judges provided individual critiques of each

number to help the students learn and improve.

“It’s kind of fun to try it out and the critiques help us play

better,” said 13-year-old Vanessa Vosburg of Costa Mesa.

Vanessa plays flute in a jazz band with other home-schooled

students. Festival organizer Donn Hallman, who directs 135

home-schooled students in jazz bands, thought up the festival as a

way to give his students more experience and exposure.

“It’s important for us to have a place like this to go and

perform,” Hallman said. “Most of them don’t have any access to a

public school program.”

Public performance is crucial for student musicians’ development,

Vanguard student Colin Dobrin said. Dobrin plays trombone in the

Vanguard University Jazz Band, scheduled as the closing act for the

festival Thursday night.

“It’s great for young students to get out and perform in as many

venues as possible,” the 21-year-old said.

And even though most of the music the students were playing was

composed before their parents were born, it still holds a certain

appeal.

“Years ago, big band and jazz music was much more popular,” Dobrin

said. “But hopefully, getting students interested in this genre of

music will keep it going.”

Vanessa, who also played in last year’s festival at Vanguard, said

she enjoys the music.

“It’s kind of funky to play,” she said. “I just like that era and

like the music.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.