Saddleback Jazz Lab Honored at Oceanside Jazz Festival

Saddleback’s freshman saxophonist Luke Reeder was honored with the “Outstanding Soloist” Award.

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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  Directed by Saddleback faculty Joey Sellers, Saddleback College’s Jazz Lab Ensemble was the only two-year school to receive a superior rating at the 7^th Annual Oceanside Jazz Festival held on Saturday, May 4^that MiraCosta College. Saddleback’s freshman saxophonist Luke Reeder was honored with the “Outstanding Soloist” Award.

Each band in the festival performed a 45-minute performance/clinic and although this festival is non-competitive, the bands are scored and outstanding soloists and sections are recognized. The Saddleback Jazz Lab Ensemble included Scott Yamashiro, Austin Archer, Luke Reeder, Richard Wisniach, and Josh Romano, saxophone; Chris Reed, trumpet; Reggie Lull, trombone; Alex Kratzer and Jalani Thompson, guitar, Justin Hershey and Ben Elliott, piano, Braham Goldstein and Robert Felix, bass; Stephen Morris and James Daley, drums/percussion and Anastasya Korol, vocalist.

Director of Jazz Studies Joey Sellers stated, “Our students played creatively and represented this great American Music admirably. The festival is set up to be a learning experience, and we got a lot out of the excellent clinicians at the festival. Glad we were able to provide this experience for our students.”

Bart McHenry, Dean of Fine Arts and Media Technology stated, “Congratulations to the hardworking Saddleback jazz lab students and soloist Luke Reeder, under the direction of Joey Sellers, for the recent accolades bestowed on them at the Oceanside Jazz Festival. I am confident that local high school students will follow in the footsteps of Mr. Reeder as Saddleback College is earning the reputation as a ‘ go to’ school for Jazz Studies.”

           

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation,Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus, Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano,Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos.  Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

           

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visitwww.saddleback.edu/arts.