Jazz festival displays musical creativity
From dusk to dawn, brass instruments flooded campus, transforming Newbury Park High School into an evening of jazz with not one moment of silence. On March 29, NPHS held its annual jazz festival and the event was full of special guests, students from over 20 different schools and beautiful music. The experience was immersive, and varying pieces were performed throughout the school.
Dennis Crystal, coordinator of the jazz festival and band director at NPHS, organizes the festival every year. “There are small groups that perform in the band and the choir room, and all of those performances are adjudicated by either professional musicians or college professors, so every group that performs gets written and recorded feedback on their performance to help them get better. I am passionate about providing opportunities and experiences for my students that are remarkable, really high quality and very unique,” Crystal said. The effort that goes into preparing and planning for the festival does not go unnoticed, and the compelling pieces put on by the talented students was not taken for granted.
One member of the performing band is Ryan Lin, junior, who has been playing the drums in the NPHS’ school band since his freshman year. As the event involves collaboration with other schools, Lin describes his experience performing “Laura” by Duke Ellington. “This festival is different because since so many people and bands show up, the energy of the campus is much more grand and is a very interesting event to be a part of,” Lin said. By bringing the community together through students with related interests, especially something as personal and innovative as music, students believe there is room for passion to grow.
Bradley Bond is a freshman trumpet player, and provided a different understanding of the event as a newcomer. Since the event was largely student-run, each member of the band was given the opportunity to help with some behind-the-scenes-action. “It helped me understand what is actually behind-the-scenes and it gave me an appreciation for the people who volunteer for us,” Bond said. The experience is immersive for students of all levels, but also allows for members of the community to experience different styles of jazz from a large range of musicians. “It is a good way to hear other local bands and also to see the middle schoolers that will be in our band within the next few years,” Bond said.
The band students share their love for jazz through the annual jazz festival, and Crystal supports the students every step of the way. “That’s what drives me. My band teacher in high school took me places and showed me things that I would have never experienced otherwise. That’s the best way to have experience, is to see it for yourself and that’s what I try to do for my students too,” Crystal said. Newbury Park’s band is able to share the gift of music with the community through compelling melodies and electric energy, working together as a collective unit.
