The Jazz Corner Society and Heid Music are pleased to announce the Fox Jazz Fest 2010 High School Improvisation Contest winners. These students were selected by recorded audition with the first and second place winners chosen by a live performance with the Big Band Reunion. The competition is open to students from public and parochial high schools in a seven county area of NE Wisconsin.   The first and second place winners will perform at the Fox Jazz Fest at Jefferson Park in Menasha with a professional trio on Saturday, September 4th.  The Fox Jazz Fest is a two day jazz festival that is free and open to the public.
 
This year’s first place winner is Michael Darling, a sophomore at Hortonville High School.  Michael is a drummer, vibraphone player and a guitarist as well as an award winning composer.  Second place winner is sophomore Ana Nelson from Berlin High School. Ana is a saxophonist, clarinetist, violinist and vocalist.  Third place winner is David Arguello, a clarinetist from Omro High School.  These students and their schools will also receive matching gift certificates from Heid Music in the amount of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place.
 
Mike Darling is involved in a number of musical activities, including wind ensemble, jazz band, pep band and pit.  He is a member of the Wisconsin All State Honors Jazz Ensemble and has also performed with the Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra. In the past three years, Mike has received first place ratings and an Exemplary Soloist Award at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Mike loves to play drumset, guitar, percussion, and piano and enjoys performing as a substitute drummer in various local big bands. He is also very interested in composing, and was selected as the overall winner in the 2009 WSMA Student Composition contest (middle school division) for his composition entitled “Nightfall”.  Mike plans on attending Lawrence University upon graduating from high school.
 
Sophomore Ana Nelson has been playing principal clarinet in her Berlin High School wind ensemble since her freshman year, and lead alto in the jazz ensemble since 8th grade.  Ana has participated in the Wisconsin State Honors programs since 2007, playing violin, principal clarinet, and lead alto.  In addition to Honors, Ana has been/will be participating in many summer music camps, including the Green Lake String Festival, Green Bay Band Camp, and Birch Creek Jazz Camp.  This past March, Ana was one of 18 vocalists selected from across the Midwest to participate in the NCACDA Honors Jazz vocal group and sing with the Real Group from Sweden.  Ana received exemplary soloist awards at state solo ensemble these past two years for clarinet, alto saxophone, and voice.  The Green Bay outstanding scholarship award was awarded to her this past year at Green Bay Band Camp.  Ana has participated in the Dorian Band Festival in Iowa, making the top Symphonic Band for the past two years, playing principal clarinet one year and being named as an Honorable Mention soloist for both years.  Ana takes violin lessons from Samantha George, the former assistant principal violinist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and clarinet lessons from Todd Levy, principal clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.  Ana will be playing clarinet in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Symphony for the upcoming season.  Ana’s father, Bill Nelson, is a band director  at Ripon Middle School and professional saxophonist.  He introduced Ana to jazz and encouraged her to develop her skills in improvisation and participate in many groups.
 
“We are overwhelmed by the achievements of these young musicians, who are multi-instrumentalists, a vocalist and composers,” stated Lori Lacey, education director of the Fox Jazz Festival.  “The fact that the winners are only sophomores in high school is also amazing. “
 
The Jazz Corner Society’s mission is to promote and preserve jazz music in its diverse formats as a vital part of our American heritage.  As part of its educational programming, the Fox Jazz Fest will also be hosting a free Jazz Clinic with Grammy nominated jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer on Saturday, September 4^th at 9:30am at Seton Middle School in Menasha. 

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