Sixteen area high schools will participate on Friday and Saturday in the annual Fountain City Jazz Festival at the De Soto High School Auditorium.
Band director Darrell Boyer said visitors can watch the daytime competitions for free but there is a cost for the finale concert featuring St. Louis-area trumpeter Dawn Weber at 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth and can be purchased at desoto.ludus.com or at the door. The school is located at 815 Amvets Drive in De Soto.
Jefferson R-7 High School Band, Spirit of Northwest Jazz Ensemble, Farmington High School Jazz Lab and Jazz Ensemble, De Soto High School Jazz Ensemble, Mater Dei High School and North County Jazz Ensemble/Jazz Lab will perform throughout the school day Friday.
Seckman High School bands, St. Pius Jazz Band and Rock Band, Herculaneum High School Jazz Band, De Soto High School Jazz Band, Dexter High School Band and De Soto Middle School Jazz Band will perform during the day Saturday.
“After each performance, bands will receive feedback from clinicians to help them continue improving for their future performances,” Boyer said.
A one-day mini jazz camp is being offered to students who want to learn how to improvise and perform in a combo setting. While registration has officially closed, Boyer said students who are interested can email him at boyer.darrell@desoto.k12.mo.us. There is limited seating and the cost is $25, which includes lunch and a ticket to the finale concert.
Weber will present a free master class at noon Saturday on Different Approaches to Improvisation. Area students are welcome to watch the class in the auditorium. Weber has performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Vargas Swing and in the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Competition. She has released 10 albums.