Boardman jazz ensemble wins at Hoover Jazz Festival

For the first time in four years, the Boardman High School jazz ensemble 1 entered the Hoover Jazz Festival, sponsored by Hoover High School and Pellegrino Music in Canton. The ensemble placed second four years ago, but they have not been able to compete due to the musicians’ commitments to the spring musicals.

At the festival, Hoover jazz ensemble 2 performed first and their jazz 1 ensemble performed last. Since they are the hosts, both of Hoover’s jazz bands are ineligible to win the top three trophies. Besides the two host bands this year, who are ineligible to win, Canton McKinley jazz band, Northwest jazz ensemble, Firestone jazz ensemble, Massillon Jackson Seven O’clock Big Band and Boardman jazz ensemble 1 competed for first place. At its last appearance four years ago, Boardman came in second place to Firestone.

This year, Boardman’s set opened with “Freedom Jazz Dance,” “Sway” and “Ya Gotta Try...Harder.” It was an ambitious program with difficult tunes and arrangements.

Three judges tallied scores for the first, second and third place trophies. Every soloist nominated by at least two judges received a Talent Citation.

BHS jazz ensemble 1 took home several awards, including the first place trophy and a $200 gift certificate from Pellegrino Music. James Harker got a trophy for being voted Best Woodwind (Sax) Player. Anthony Bruno, Rocco Deniro, Reese Maslen, Nic Ouimet and Nico Ruggieri all received Talent Citations.

The BHS jazz program has an outstanding reputation. Jazz ensemble 1 has a standing invitation to perform at several locations in New York City, including Trump Tower and Swing 46. The band will be played at Swing 46 on May 8. Both jazz 1 and jazz 2 performed on the deck of the USS Intrepid Air and Sea Museum on May 9. The community is invited to hear all three of Boardman’s jazz ensembles at the Spring Jazz Concert on May 29 at 7 p.m. in the BHS Cafeteria. The BHS summer jazz ensemble has performances lined up at the Warren Amphitheater on July 9 and Boardman Park on July 23.

The Jazz Program is run by Boardman Director of Bands, Thomas M. Ruggieri.