On November 7th at 6:30 PM, OCSA will showcase its two -time Ellington winning jazz band on its first concert of the year!

As a very popular unofficial department of the school, the jazz program is always a topic of conversation at OCSA. Taking in students from seventh grade, the Jazz Band conducts and elevates student’s musical experience knowledge. By exposing them to a different genre of music, students involved become continuously comfortable with performance along with improvisation and peer encouragement.

Eleventh grade percussionist, Zachary Conidis, has been involved in the program for 4 and a half years. Through his deep-rooted experience, Conidis describes the program as an outlet. “Jazz gives me another way to express my emotions,” states Conidis. “It also gives me a good way to connect with other people and share something together.”

Jazz concerts are normally an audience-filled event that hold great anticipation and energy school-wide. This year, the concert will be taking place in either the covered area or the EXPO hall in OCSA’s campus, depending on the weather.

The award-winning band has been undergoing various practice sessions, in and out of school. On Wednesday evenings after school, the band takes time with their director, Jason Anderson to rehearse their performance pieces. Twelfth grade Alto Saxophonist, Bryan Villanueva, describes the pieces as “Fun to play, energetic and emotional.” The band has also been doing sectionals and meeting with clinicians to learn and improve their sound.

Make sure to join us with all the jazzy tunes that will be taking place on Tuesday, November 7th at 6:30 PM only at OCSA.