PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — On Saturday, Jan. 5, Jonathan Guimond and Dilia Salcedo from Presque Isle High School, along with other talented high school jazz vocalists and instrumentalists from around the state, came together at South Portland High School to perform a final concert in the 2019 Maine Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Festival.
Through an audition earlier this fall, judges selected 102 students representing 34 schools from Presque Isle to York to participate in five different jazz ensembles: The SSAA choir, SATB choir, Jazz Band, Honors Jazz Band and Jazz Combo.
These ensembles were directed by world-class conductors who traveled to Maine from New York to California to work with the young musicians. Many teacher and parent volunteers came together to make this festival a success.
Guimond performed with the Honors Jazz Band, playing lead tenor saxophone, while Dilia Salcedo sang alto with the SSAA Choir.
Schools sending participants included Bangor, Bonny Eagle, Brewer, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus, Deering, Edward Little, Falmouth, Fryeburg Academy, Gardiner, George Stevens Academy, Greely, Hall Dale, Hampden Academy, John Bapst Memorial, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Lincoln Academy, Maine Arts Academy, MDI, Morse, Noble, Nokomis Regional, Old Orchard, Portland, Presque Isle, Scarborough, Searsport, South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth and York.
The Maine Music Educators Association is a state unit of the National Association for Music Education. Founded in 1917, it is the oldest recognized state music educator organization in the country.
