Monterey Jazz Festival Announces Members of 2010 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
Monterey, CA; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce members of the 2010 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Festival's internationally-renowned high school all-star big band. Created as a part of the Monterey Jazz Festival's continuing commitment to jazz education and selected through an application process during MJF’s Next Generation Jazz Festival each spring, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra includes the most talented high school jazz students from all regions of the United States.
A three-year grant from the Surdna Foundation supports the Next Generation Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra's U.S. and international tours. The Surdna Foundation’s Arts Program is national in scope and supports the artistic advancement of teens, ages 12 - 18.
Formerly known as the MJF High School All-Star Big Band (from 1971-2004), the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra represents the future generation of jazz stars through a program that selects the best and brightest high school jazz musicians in the country.
Former members of the Orchestra include pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen, bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Chad Wackerman, saxophonists Joshua Redman, Eric Marienthal, Dave Koz, trombonist Andy Martin, and big band leader Gordon Goodwin to name a few. In the past, the band has been under the leadership of Ladd McIntosh, Don Schramber, Benny Golson, Bill Berry, and many more.
Now under the tutelage of Mr. Paul Contos, the renowned saxophonist and flautist who serves as the director of the Orchestra, the ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of the most challenging big band literature available. Orchestra members are selected through a rigorous audition process that includes review by a national panel of judges comprised of professional jazz musicians and educators. The Monterey Jazz Festival invited interested students to audition for the NGJO via video tape or in person, during MJF's 6th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, held April 9 – 11, 2010 in downtown Monterey.
In 2010, there are nine returning members for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, including saxophonists Andrew Olson (Tualatin High School, Tualatin, Oregon) and Maximillian Zooi (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, California); trombonists Kyle Molitor (Tigard High School, Tigard, Oregon), Jon Hatamiya (Davis Senior High School, Davis, California), John Egizi (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, California) and Emmanuel Rojas (Warren High School, Downey, California); trumpeters Joshua Gawel (Daniel Boone Area High School, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania) Noah Hocker (American Music Program, Portland, Oregon); and vocalist Ben Lusher (The Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, New York). John Egizi and Emmanual Rojas are three-time members of the band this year.
All together, twenty-one high school musicians from six states comprise the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, including eleven students from California, five from Oregon, two from New York, and one each from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Members of the band from California represent six counties, including Alameda, Los Angeles, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Yolo counties.
After obtaining a place in the Orchestra, members gather for one weekend in the summer to begin rehearsals in preparation for a domestic or international tour. Previous tour destinations for the Orchestra have included stops at festivals and various venues in Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe, including recent performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Paris Hilton in France (2007); the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2008); and a 10-day U.S. tour from Kansas City to Washington D.C. (2009). In 2010, the band will perform a North American Tour, which includes performances in Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal, and New York City, from June 30 - July 7, 2010.
“The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra’s 10-day Tri-C to NYC 2010 summer tour should prove to be truly memorable,” said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival. “Beginning with our first performance, which will take place at the newly renovated Hanna Theater in Cleveland, (home of Sean Jones and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra), we’ll share the stage with the Tri-C All-Star Band and special guest Dominick Farinacci. Then, armed with passports in hand, we take Canada by storm with performances slated at the Rex Hotel and Toronto Jazz Festival in Toronto, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Finally, back to the USA for two sets at New York City’s famed Jazz Standard, where they have great BBQ as well. It should really be fun, and personally, I can’t wait!”
The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will also make their traditional Sunday appearance at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon on September 19, 2010, with MJF Artist-In-Residence Dianne Reeves sitting as a special guest.

PRESIDENT OBAMA HONORS OUTSTANDING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS

WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama today named 103 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  The educators will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. later this year.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to the best pre-college-level science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.  Each year the award alternates between mathematics and science teachers teaching Kindergarten through 6th grade, and those teaching 7th through 12th grades.  This year it goes to teachers teaching 7th through 12th grades.

Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.

Last spring at the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama called on all Americans to join the effort to elevate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education as a national priority. The President’s public-private “Educate to Innovate” initiative, which was launched last fall, has attracted more than $500 million in donations and in-kind support from corporations, philanthropies, service organizations, and others to help inspire students to pursue studies and careers in math and science.  Last month, Cabinet officials and others in the Federal government answered the President’s call to action by volunteering in local classrooms as part of National Lab Day, a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support for teachers and students studying mathematics and science.

“Science and technology have long been at the core of America’s strength and competitiveness, and the scientists and engineers who have led America on its remarkable path to success share something very precious: science and math teachers who brought these critical subjects to life,” said President Obama. “Today we honor some of the best of these teachers and thank them for their dedication. They are inspirations not just to their students, but to the Nation and the world.”

The individuals receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching this year are:

Alabama

      Megan O'Neill, Fairhope (Science)

Alaska

      Robert Williams, Palmer (Math)

      Jane Sandstrom, Fairbanks (Science)

Arizona

      Sandra Trevino, Sierra Vista (Math)

      Colette Bos, Mesa (Science)

Arkansas

      Lorraine Darwin, Cabot (Math)

      Karen Ladd, Jonesboro (Science)

California

      Sean Nank, Oceanside (Math)

      Mark Fairbank, Paso Robles (Science)

Colorado

      Carrie Heaney, Aurora (Math)

      Aaron Sams, Woodland Park (Science)

Connecticut

      Edward DePeau III, Newington (Math)

      Kristen Record, Stratford (Science)

Delaware

      Carrie Barber, Wilmington (Math)

      Kelly Green, Middletown (Science)

Department of Defense Education Activity

      Timothy Kelly, Baumholder, Germany (Math)

      Ray Smola, Heidelberg, Germany (Science)

District of Columbia

      Yvette Yamagata, Washington (Math)

Florida

      Michelle Voelker, Defuniak Springs (Math)

      Allan Phipps, Plantation (Science)

Georgia

      Christopher Harrow, Atlanta (Math)

      Rachael Parr, Commerce (Science)

Hawaii

      Yannabah Lewis, Kailua-Kona (Math)

      John Constantinou, Kea'au (Science)

Idaho

      Kim Zeydel, Meridian (Math)

      Marian DeWane, Boise (Science)

Illinois

      Paul Karafiol, Chicago (Math)

      Jason Crean, La Grange (Science)

Indiana

      Janice Mitchener, Carmel (Math)

      Deanna York, Indianapolis (Science)

Iowa

      Matthew Miller, Cedar Rapids (Math)

      Jessica Gogerty, Des Moines (Science)

Kansas

      Cynthia Couchman, Buhler (Math)

      Bruce Wellman, Lawrence (Science)

Kentucky

      Jennifer Crase, Crestwood (Math)

      Melissa Evans, Corbin (Science)

Louisiana

      Pamela Goodner, Baton Rouge (Math)

      Lisa Hartman, New Orleans (Science)

Maine

      Shawn Towle, Falmouth (Math)

      Maria Palopoli, Brunswick (Science)

Maryland

      Kimberly Burton-Regulski, Essex (Math)

      Radhika Plakkot, Huntingtown (Science)

Massachusetts

      Sharon Hessney, Roxbury (Math)

      Mark Greenman, Marblehead (Science)

Michigan

      Renee Yake, Iron Mountain (Math)

      Nathaniel Childers, Rochester Hills (Science)

Minnesota

      Karen Hyers, Oakdale (Math)

      Stephen Kaback, Minneapolis (Science)

Mississippi

      Virginia Welch, Hattiesburg (Math)

      Linda Parrott, Ocean Springs (Science)

Missouri

      Steven Willott, Saint Charles (Math)

      Marsha Tyson, Columbia (Science)

Montana

      LeAnne Yenny, Bozeman (Math)

      Darlene Ruble, Eureka (Science)

Nebraska

      Linda Coates, Omaha (Math)

      Brenda Zabel, Omaha (Science)

Nevada

      Michael Patterson, Las Vegas (Math)

      Cynthia Kern, Henderson (Science)

New Hampshire

      Stacey Plummer, Hollis     (Math)

      Angela Gospodarek, Raymond (Science)

New Jersey

      Mark Geiger, Lanoka Harbor (Math)

      W. Donald Clark, Long Branch (Science)

New Mexico

      Dana Dawson, Edgewood (Math)

      Vincent Case, Albuquerque (Science)

New York

      Camsie Matis, New York (Math)

      Jeanne Kaidy, Rochester (Science)

North Carolina

      Maria Hernandez, Durham (Math)

      Judith Jones, Chapel Hill (Science)

North Dakota

      Fredrick Strand, Hatton (Math)

      Ryan Bleth, Bismarck (Science)

Ohio

      Rebecca Link, Fort Recovery (Math)

      Sandee Coats-Haan, Liberty Township (Science)

Oklahoma

      Beth Harper, Oklahoma City (Math)

      Kristy VanDorn, Edmond (Science)

Oregon

      Marna Knoer, Eugene (Math)

      Lori Lancaster, Portland (Science)

Pennsylvania

      Becky Piscitella, Johnstown (Math)

Puerto Rico

      Sylvette Velez, San Juan (Math)

      Alexandra Rodríguez, San Juan (Science)

Rhode Island

      Jeffrey Schoonover, Portsmouth (Science)

South Carolina

      Michelle Spigner, Columbia (Science)

South Dakota

      Lori Keleher, Miller (Math)

      Angela Hejl, Yankton (Science)

Tennessee

      Jeff McCalla, Arlington (Math)

      Peggy Bertrand, Oak Ridge (Science)

Texas

      Mallory Zimmerman, Uvalde (Math)

      Lucielle Paramoure, New Braunfels (Science)

US Territories

      Weslyn Harry, St. Thomas (Math)

      Mary Jane Coles, Frederiksted (Science)

Utah

      Janet Sutorius, Nephi (Math)

      Amy Pace, Saint George (Science)

Vermont

      John Willard, Colchester (Math)

      William Warren, Colchester (Science)

Virginia

      Kimberly Morrow-Leong, Bristow (Math)

      Dat Le, Arlington (Science)

Washington

      Nicola Wethall, Oak Harbor (Math)

      Kareen Borders, Lakebay (Science)

West Virginia

      Cynthia Burke, Wheeling (Math)

      Rebecca Jones, Lumberport (Science)

Wisconsin

      Weston Glasbrenner, Fennimore (Math)

      Melissa Hemling, Pulaski (Science)

Wyoming

      Susan Carlson, Casper (Math)

      Mark Haskins, Lander (Science)