Judges chosen for this festival are the best in the business and include:
2010 -
Matt Harris - CSU Northridge
Mary Fettig - San Francisco Conservatory
Matt Moresi - Ferris State University (Michigan)
Meryl Wamhoff (Sight Reading) - San Joaquin Delta College
Ben Wendel - Saxophonist for Kneebody
Adam Benjamin - Keyboards for Kneebody
Kevah Rastegar - Bass for Kneebody
Nate Wood - Drums for Kneebody
Shane Endsley - Trumpet for Kneebody
2011 -
Bob Athayde
Born and raised in East Oakland, Athayde is the second of four siblings in a family where musical expression was encouraged. Although his mother played both trombone and piano, and his father took piano lessons, it was the extemporaneous and raucous singing around the dinner table or during long family car trips that most vividly shaped Athayde’s love of music. These affectionate memories, coupled with the family’s value of hard work led Bob to pursue music , beginning with his fourth grade band class at Allendale Elementary School in Oakland. more....
Steve Roach
Steve Roach has been the Director of Jazz Studies at California State University Sacramento since 2001. Steve has also served as Director of Jazz Studies at Baylor University and has held teaching positions at the University of Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois University. Steve’s duties at CSUS include directing the two large jazz ensembles and the Latin Jazz Ensemble. In addition, Roach teaches courses in jazz pedagogy and jazz styles and offers private instruction in jazz trumpet. Steve also directs the annual CSUS Summer Jazz Camp featuring the Jim Widner Big Band, and the annual CSUS Winter Jazz Festival. more.....
George StoneGeorge Stone has had a true love and appreciation of jazz music since the age of 5 when he first heard Maynard Ferguson’s record called Newport Suite. By first grade he listened daily to recordings of groups such as the Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Bud Shank, Frank Rosolino, Howard Roberts, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, the Candoli brothers, Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond. more....
Larry SutherlandDr. Sutherland’s orchestral experience began with his membership in the renowned Lewis and Clark High School Orchestra in Spokane Washington, including a performance in the All Northwest Honor Orchestra. Coming to the University of Missouri as a freshman, he played in the University Orchestra and began to learn literature and rehearsal techniques by playing in the Stephens College Orchestra. This was conducted by Edward Murphy, assistant conductor and principal horn of the St. Louis Symphony. more....
There simply aren't better judges at any festival in the state of California than at The San Joaquin Valley Jazz Festival this year.
Buchanan High School is located at 1560 N. Minnewawa Ave., Clovis, CA 93619
Driving Directions to Buchanan High School
From the South:
Highway 99 north, exit Highway 41 north, exit Highway 180 east, stay to
the right and immediately exit Highway 168 east, exit Herndon Ave east.
Turn Right at the end of the exit and immediately turn left onto Clovis
Ave. Travel north to Nees Ave., 2nd stop. Turn left and travel west to
Minnewawa Ave. The stadium will be in front of you on the right. Turn
right on Minnewawa Ave. and travel north to Teague Ave. (Teague has a
stoplight) Turn Left on Teague and turn left on Spirit Street (between
Buchanan and Alta Sierra Intermediate School) for Band Check-in.
From the North: Highway
99 south exit Highway 180 east, travel east and exit Highway 168 east,
exit Herndon Ave east. Turn Right at the end of the freeway exit, and
immediately turn left onto Clovis Ave. Travel north to Nees Ave., 2nd
stop. Turn left and travel west to Minnewawa Ave. The stadium will be in
front of you on the right. Turn right and travel north to Teague Ave.
(Teague has a stoplight) Turn Left on Teague and turn left on Spirit
Street (between Buchanan and Alta Sierra Intermediate School) for Band
Check-in.
**Spirit Street is not clearly marked but it is a driveway just past the Buchanan portables and construction that separates and defines the boundaries of Buchanan High School and Alta Sierra Intermediate School. The driveway/street is approx. 1/8 of a mile from Peach Ave.