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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Christine B. Richards-Carlson, 970-479-6146 VAIL JAZZ FOUNDATION SPONSORS WASHINGTON PREP HIGH SCHOOL BAND’S RETURN TO VAIL June 21, 2002 – Vail, Colorado – The Vail Jazz Foundation proudly announces the return of the Washington Preparatory High School Marching Band for Vail’s Fourth of July Festivities. For the fourth consecutive year, the Vail Jazz Foundation in cooperation with the Vail Valley Chamber and Tourism Bureau is bringing the ninety member jazz ensemble and marching band to Vail from Los Angeles, California, to perform in the Vail America Days Fourth of July Parade. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. in Golden Peak and progresses west to Lionshead. Last year, the band took home the coveted President’s Award, and the two years prior, the Band has won the Vail America Days Parade Best Marching Award. Washington Prep High School Band will also put on two free performances during the Fourth of July weekend. The Washington Prep Jazz and Marching Band will put on a free performance Wednesday, July 3rd from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Children’s Fountain in Vail Village. A second free concert will take place as part of the Vail Jazz Foundation’s Jazz on the Plaza in Beaver Creek on Friday, July 5 from 12 Noon to 2:00 p.m. The VJF began organizing the Band’s trip to Vail for the 4th of July holiday as a direct result of music director Fernando B. Pullum’s desire to broaden his students’ horizons beyond their experiences in South Central Los Angeles. He explained, “In order to have a dream they must first see what is available.” The trips have had such a positive impact on young people in the community that within days of returning home dozens of students approach Pullum each year, some still in middle school, asking whether they can join the band and go to Vail next year. The Vail trip is an exciting but exhausting tour for the Wash Prep Band. The students leave Los Angeles on charter buses at Noon, July 2, for a ‘round the clock ride to Vail, arriving around 8:00 a.m. on July 3. The nineteen-hour bus trip from Los Angeles doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 100 band members, nor does the floor of the Vail Mountain School gym where they “camp out” while they are in Vail. Over the course of the three days, the students will try to pack in as much activity as they can between performances, including riding the gondola to Eagle’s Nest, touring around town and partaking in local festivities. The band members are up before dawn on July 5, and are back on the buses and heading for home by 3:00 a.m. Since its inception in 1996, the Vail Jazz Foundation has supported the highly regarded Washington Prep High School music program. The relationship between the VJF and Wash Prep was borne out of tragedy over seven years ago caused by a fire that destroyed the school’s band building and all the band instruments. The Vail Jazz Foundation Chairman, Howard Stone, was so moved by the devastation of the incident that he joined with others in a fundraising effort to restore the building and replace the lost instruments. From this tragedy The Friends of Washington Prep Foundation was formed, and is the charitable arm (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) of Washington Prep High School. Since recovering from the fire, the Washington Prep High School music program has been recognized for excellence – both musically, and for having a high percentage of students who graduate and earn scholarships to colleges and universities. The Jazz Ensemble, which is made up of members from the marching band, also has been recognized for musical excellence and has performed at prestigious venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In an effort to empower the students at Washington Prep and spread the wealth of their musical talents further throughout South Central Los Angeles, The Friends initiated "Kids Helping Kids." In this innovative music-mentor program, members of the Washington Prep Jazz Band, with the supervision and guidance of the Band Director and other music teachers, instruct local elementary/middle school students in playing instruments, music lessons and hands-on workshops. Elementary and middle school students who show an interest in learning to play an instrument signed-up for tuition free year round Saturday Music Conservatory held at Washington Prep. KHK is an ongoing program with students entering the program weekly with the very gratifying result that participants return to their schools and neighborhoods and recruit others. The student teachers in turn benefit from participating in a positive community service activity. In addition, with semiannual culminating activities consisting of performances by the students presented to the local community, including retirement and convalescent homes, KHK builds a sense of civic pride with the community at large gaining from performances of the students. The Vail Jazz Foundation’s mission to perpetuate jazz is carried out through the presentation of live performances featuring great jazz musicians and through jazz education focused on young musicians and young audiences. For more information about the Vail Jazz Foundation, or the Washington Prep High School Band, please call (970) 479-6146. For more
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