Milton Academy jazz students took part in the 40th annual Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival at the Hynes Auditorium in Boston on Saturday, February 9. Over 2,500 students from 12 states participated in what is hailed as the largest high school jazz festival in the country. Milton’s jazz group competed in the medium to small-sized high school combo category.
“The group was outstanding, coming in second place by the slimmest of margins and winning two partial scholarships for group members to Berklee summer programs,” said faculty member Bob Sinicrope.
Samara Oster (Class II), who sang vocals for the group, received the Judge’s Award for Outstanding Musician. Other group members included Chris Côte (trumpet), Drew Hresko (alto sax), Adrian Alston-Moore (tenor sax), Derek Huang (piano), Will English (guitar), Alec Seymour (bass), Bernardo Schuhmacher (drums) and Will Davis (congas).
Another of Milton’s jazz groups played at the Atrium Mall in Chestnut Hill on Sunday, February 10, to help promote TeenLife Boston—an organization that helps students connect with community service opportunities and other programs beyond their school. Students who volunteered their time include Brady Caspar (alto sax), Jonah Francese (trumpet), Sam Pearce (trumpet), Ben Naddaff-Hafrey (piano), Luke Gaffney (piano), Michael Abrams (piano), Jamie Maynard (guitar), Wyatt Cmar (guitar), Spencer Gaffney (bass) and Ethan Schneider (drums).
