April 23, 2012
High School All Stars Perform as part of Santa Clara University Fine Arts Series
Santa Clara, CA – April 23, 2012 – Saturday night, April 21, the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars opened for the Stan Kenton Alumni Big Band as part of the SCU Presents fine arts series on the Santa Clara University campus in the Louis B. Mayer Theater. It was a great honor for the All Stars and they were definitely up for it. The place was packed with Jazz aficionados who know and love big band music and were ready for an evening of great Jazz. Dr. Aaron Lington, the All Stars director, had skillfully prepared the band and Kris Strom, long-time ally of San Jose Jazz, adeptly conducted them in place of Dr. Lington who was in a recording studio with Paul Tynan and the Bicoastal Collective producing his latest CD. When the All Stars completed their final song of the evening, the crowd gave them a strong and enthusiastic ovation. It was a great night for the High School All Stars and the audience as the Stan Kenton Alumni Big Band then took the stage and killed it.
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November 7, 2011
San Jose Jazz Names Dr. Aaron Lington Director
of its High School All Stars Big Band
San Jose, CA – November 7, 2011 – San Jose Jazz has named Dr. Aaron Lington as director of the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars (formerly High School Big Band). The program assists talented young Jazz musicians achieve a mastery of performance and improvisation techniques while advancing their knowledge of music theory, arranging, composition, performance, and Jazz history. Participation is achieved through a competitive audition process.
Executive Director Michael Miller stated, “Education is our lead priority at San Jose Jazz, and we are fortunate to have someone with Aaron’s expertise join our team. With his leadership, the region’s most talented young players will have the opportunity to benefit from his professional experience.”
Dr. Lington is an acknowledged and accomplished music educator, arranger/composer, and saxophonist. California Music Educators Association (CMEA) named him Jazz Educator of the Year; Downbeat Magazine has twice recognized him as a “Rising Star” in the Baritone Saxophone category; and San José State University honored him with a faculty award for outstanding teaching, professional achievement, and meritorious service to the University.
In addition to earning his Doctorate in Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas, Dr. Lington graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston, Moores School of Music. Dr. Lington has taught at Texas Wesleyan University, University of North Texas, and the University of Houston and is an Associate Professor at San Jose State University. Dr. Lington has adjudicated over 20 Jazz festivals in the Western United States, including Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, Folsom Jazz Festival in Folsom, CA; CMEA Jazz Combo/Vocal Festival in San Francisco, CA; and University of Houston Jazz Festival in Houston, TX. He is member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); The National Association for Music Education (MENC); and the California Music Educators Association (CMEA).
Beyond teaching, arranging and composing, Dr. Lington frequently performs with the Aaron Lington Quintet, and has performed with the San José Symphony, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Dave Pell Octet, Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, Wayne Wallace/Mike Zilber Latin Jazz Ensemble, and many others.
San Jose Jazz’ Director of Education & Development Harley Christensen said, “We have been working with Aaron for years and are very impressed with his passion for music, his capacity to inspire and teach, and his excellence in performance. He’s the right guy to lead the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars into the future.”
Auditions for the 2011-12 ensemble take place at the School of Music at San José State University on Sunday, November 20, 2011, beginning at 1pm. Students must email Dr. Lington at
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to schedule an audition slot. There is no cost to audition, but prorated tuition of $250 for the balance of the school year is required. Scholarships are available. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm in the San José State University Music Building starting on Wednesday, November 30. Download the flyer for directions and other information.
About the High School All Stars
The High School All Stars program helps participating students achieve a mastery of performance and improvisation techniques while advancing their knowledge of music theory, arranging, composition, performance, and Jazz history. Students will have access to getting videotaped for use in college applications and competitions. The High School All Stars program provides students with learning and performance opportunities that exceed what they experience elsewhere.
About San Jose Jazz
San Jose Jazz is a 25-year-old 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation whose mission is to enrich the community through education and performance. The organization's purpose is to enhance the recognized value of arts to the individual and society, to promote healthy individuals and healthy communities, to use music and events to bring people together, and to help build a stronger, more vibrant community through the arts.?In 1987 San Jose Jazz produced its first Winter Jazz series. In 1989 it produced its first Jazz festival, and in 1993 it produced its first youth education program. Today, San Jose Jazz is a year-round, regional arts organization. It produces a variety of education and performance programs designed to celebrate Jazz, to celebrate San Jose's cultural heritage, and to help make San Jose and the Silicon Valley an increasingly attractive place to live, work and raise a family.
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September 8, 2011
San Jose Jazz to Reorganize its Education Programs
September 8, 2011 - Michael Miller, Executive Director of San Jose Jazz, announced all San Jose Jazz education programs are being reorganized and that San Jose Jazz will be producing the following education programs during the 2011-12 season:
- High School All Stars
- Summer Jazz Camp
- Next Gen Stage, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
- Progressions
Following a September 7, 2011 meeting of the the San Jose Jazz Board of Directors Education Committee, the committee’s Chair, Dr. Robert Griffin, advised Michael Miller that the committee voted in favor of reorganizing all education programs with goals of:
- creating timelines and budgets,
- establishing measurable goals and objectives,
- creating evaluation instruments for each program, and
- expanding the organization’s relationships with regional high school band directors.
The reorganization will include launching all of San Jose Jazz’s education programs as new programs without carryover of personnel. All qualified candidates will be encouraged to apply for the new positions, including current program managers. Mr. Miller instructed Harley Christensen, Director of Education & Development, to lead the reorganization.
Job and program descriptions and job applications will be available on San Jose Jazz’s website in the near future. Audition dates for the High School Big Band will be announced before October 1.
The San Jose Jazz Board of Directors, at its January retreat, officially made education the organization’s lead priority. The organization’s new mission statement is: "San Jose Jazz, as a public benefit corporation, enriches our community through jazz education and performance." For more information, contact Director of Education and Development Harley Christensen at
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.
About San Jose Jazz
San Jose Jazz is a 25-year-old 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation whose mission is to enrich the community through education and performance. The organization's purpose is to enhance the recognized value of arts to the individual and society, to promote healthy individuals and healthy communities, to use music and events to bring people together, and to help build a stronger, more vibrant community through the arts.?In 1987 San Jose Jazz produced its first Winter Jazz series. In 1989 it produced its first Jazz festival, and in 1993 it produced its first youth education program. Today, San Jose Jazz is a year-round, regional arts organization. It produces a variety of education and performance programs designed to celebrate Jazz, to celebrate San Jose's cultural heritage, and to help make San Jose and the Silicon Valley an increasingly attractive place to live, work and raise a family.
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San Jose Jazz education programs are brought to you in part by
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