The top three winners share the spotlight at the Ventura Music Festival's annual Student Jazz Competition held on Jan. 16, 2011 at the Laurel Theatre in Ventura, California. They included first place winner Rachel Flowers, 17, center, who played John Coltrane’s “Naima” on the piano; second-place finisher Jacob Scesney, 18, left, who played Sonny Stitt’s “The Eternal Triangle” on the alto sax; and Tanner Dawson, 17, who played “Recorda Me” by Joe Henderson on tenor sax. For more information on the festival, visit www.venturamusicfestival.org Photos courtesy of the Ventura Music Festival ©2011
Oxnard resident Rachel Flowers, 17, earned top honors at the Ventura Music Festival’s annual Student Jazz Competition held Jan. 16 at Ventura’s Laurel Theatre, the festival reported in a media release.
Flowers was awarded both the opportunity to play on stage with Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and his 18-piece band at the Ventura Music Festival’s upcoming Latin Jazz concert on Feb. 12 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds as well as a $500 scholarship.
The five teen musicians, ranging in age from 15-18, were selected from 18 applicants to perform in the annual concert competition. They were accompanied by Coda, a Ventura-based jazz trio.
Flowers wowed the crowd with her passionate rendition of John Coltrane’s “Naima” on the piano, festival organizers reported. Blind since birth, she began playing the piano at the age of 2 and learns by listening. A music prodigy and Hueneme High School junior, Flowers placed second in the festival’s 2010 student competition.
Second-place finisher Jacob Scesney, 18, played Sonny Stitt’s “The Eternal Triangle” on the alto sax. Third place was awarded to 17-year old Tanner Dawson with his rendition of “Recorda Me” by Joe Henderson on tenor sax. Rounding out the competition were Sara Sithi-Amnuai, 15, on flugelhorn and Cory Smith, 16, on drums.
The public will have another chance to see four of these five talented teens perform on Feb. 7 at a dinner fundraising concert to support future VMF educational outreach programs at the Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura. The restaurant will donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to the festival. For reservations, call 805.643.7433.
To purchase tickets to the Arturo Sandoval concert or for more information about the Ventura Music Festival’s complete 2011 concert series, go to www.venturamusicfestival.org or call 805.648.3146.
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