Jazz Ensemble II
Under the Direction
of Stephen G. Baldanzi
The
North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble II comprises jazz musicians from grades 9
through 12. Students wishing to be a member of this ensemble must
audition in the fall. This ensemble studies, rehearses, and performs a
wide range of advanced music from the jazz idiom.
Under the direction or
Mr. Stephen G. Baldanzi, the NA Jazz Ensemble II has received excellent and
superior ratings in regional and national music festivals, including the
Festivals of Music Music Festivals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the
Windy City Classic Music Festival in Chicago,
Illinois, the
Slippery Rock University Jazz Festival, the Edinboro University Jazz
Festival, and the WDUQ/Duquesne University Jazz Festival,
NA Jazz Ensemble II has had the great honor of
working with some of the finest music educators and jazz musicians
including Mr. Jim Snidero- New York Saxophonists and author of The Jazz Conception, Mr. Ralph Ford- Director of Bands and the
world renowned "Sound of the South" Marching Band, the John Long School
of Music from Troy University, Troy, Alabama, and Dr. Stephen Hawk, Director of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Slippery Rock
University.
The band has also had the pleasure of hosting
guest performances by Mr. Ernie Pontiere former singer for the
Letterman, Mr. Greg Macaluso, former pianist, writer, and arranger for
Wayne Newton in Las Vegas Nevada, Mr. Louis Pisani, former lead trumpet
player for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Slippery Rock University Jazz
Ensemble I under the
direction of Dr. Stephen Hawk, the Youngstown State University Jazz
Ensemble I under the direction of Dr. Kent Engelhardt, and the
Youngstown State University Faculty Jazz Combo, the Hawk-Tomaro Big
Band, under the and the direction of Dr. Stephen Hawk and Michael
Tomaro, and the United States Marine Corps Jazz Combo from Athens,
Georgia.
For information about the NA Jazz Ensemble I, email Mr. Stephen G. Baldanzi at sbaldanzi@northallegheny.org.
