top of page

Jazz is alive and well in the city of Atlanta! On Memorial Day Weekend, The World Class Jazz Youth Ensemble brings together top notch Jazz musicians from different high schools for an explosive experience rooted in Jazz Culture. 

 

The World Class Jazz Youth Ensemble is an honor jazz ensemble composed of the best high school musicians in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. World Class Jazz is a celebration of the Jazz Music Culture as well as talent and passion within the youth of Atlanta in our public schools.

Chief Clinician 2016

Ronald Carter, the former director of the world-renowned Northern Illinois University (NIU) Jazz Ensembleand former Director of Jazz Studies is continuing to educate students in jazz education and performance on university, high school and performing arts schools and campuses across the country, South America and Canada.

As an educator, Carter has presented workshops as guest conductor, artist, clinician, or adjudicator at Michigan State University, Georgia State University, Western Illinois University, University of Northern Colorado, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Northern Illinois University, Hampton University, Loyola University, Coe College, Augustana College, Vander Cook College of Music, and Georgia State College, and Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. He has performed, conducted and presented clinics at regional, national, and international conferences, and directed all-state jazz bands in Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island, Missouri, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Kentucky, Vermont, Arizona, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Washington.

Carter who worked 18 years in the East St. Louis School District as the former director of the Lincoln Senior High School Jazz Band, also performed professionally in the St. Louis metropolitan area as a freelance musician on saxophone, clarinet, flute, and as a vocalist. He co-directed the group Infiniti and performed with the legendary George Hudson Orchestra. Carter has also performed professionally with Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, The Jimmy Dorsey Band, Wallace Roney, The Temptations, The Dells, Oliver Lake, Hamiett Bluiett, Leon Thomas, Art Davis, Fareed Haque, Joseph Bowie, Frank Mantooth, Terell Stafford, Orbert Davis, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker, and many others.

An abbreviated list of his honors and awards includes Downbeat Magazine’s Jazz Educators Hall of Fame, The Woody Herman Music Award (Birch Creek Music Center), The 1991 Milken National Distinguished Educator Award, Southern Illinois University Excellence in Teaching Award, and the St. Louis American Newspaper’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees Professorship.

Carter’s current projects includes International Consultant for the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York; Lead Artist for the Jazz At Lincoln Center Band Director’s Academy; Co-Author for Alfred Publications “Swingin’ On The Bars”, and author of GIA Music Publications “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz – Book I.” Carter is currently completing Book II of “Teaching Music Through Performance In Jazz,” scheduled for completion in 2015.

Important Deadlines:
 
Band Director Submissions
March 25th, 2016
 
WCJ Band Fee Payment
May 14th, 2016
 
WJC Band Reading Session
CANCELLED
 
 
 
 
The WCJ Youth Ensemble membership is composed based on band director recommendations/submissions. Any student that is interested should contact thier band director, and ask them to submit the recommendation form below on your behalf. Submissions will be taken no later than March 25th, 2016.
 
Each member of the WCJ Youth Ensemble will be responsible for the $20 band fee.
 

Host School:

North Atlanta High School

 

4111 Northside Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30327

2016 World Class Jazz

Roster

 

1st Alto                                Joshua Woods                      Stephenson H.S.

Alto                                     Isaac Williams                       Creekside H.S.

Tenor                                  Johnathan Paul                      Wheeler H.S

Tenor                                  Chris Tidwell                         N. Atlanta H.S

Bari Sax                               Decorey Bolton                     Stephenson H.S.

Bari Sax                               Jasmine May                        Mays H.S.

Trombone                            Phillip Williams                     Creekside H.S.

Trombone                            Paris Mobley                        Mundy's Mill H.S.

Trombone                            Demarcus Felton                  Morrow H.S.

Bass Trombone                     Assata Bellgarde                  Stephenson H.S.

Trumpet                              JaVodrick Smith                    Mays H.S.

Trumpet                              Griffin Callaghan                   N. Atlanta H.S.

Trumpet                              Armanni Johnson                  Mays H.S.

Bass                                    Skylar Brillante                     Grady H.S.

Piano                                   Alex Bohr                            Cambridge H.S.

Drum Set                             Harry Pitsikoulis                   Syracuse

_
bottom of page