The Jazz Corner Society and Heid Music are proud to announce the winners of its 2011 High School Jazz Improvisation Contest.  The student who has been chosen to perform at the Fox Jazz Fest at Jefferson Park in Menasha on Saturday, September 3rd is DePere High School student Frankie Salerno.

                                                                                                                                     

Frankie received his first guitar in 1^st grade and had one of his first lessons with jazz great, Dave Sullivan.  After experimenting with other instruments including piano, trombone, and drum set, Frankie revisited the guitar, which has remained his musical focus for the past three years.  His high level of aptitude in the area of “Guitar Hero” was a major force in this decision and also in developing an appreciation of the great rock and roll classics.

 

Frankie is a member of the De Pere High School Jazz Band, Combo, and Wind Ensemble.  He has also performed at the DPHS “Battle of The Bands” and with the group, “Tomorrow’s Yesterdays” on drums.  He is currently forming a jazz group and playing some gigs with Chris and John Salerno.

 

Frankie studies classical guitar with Dan Weaver, and other styles with Mark Plopper of the group “Conscious Pilot”.  In addition, he has taken lessons from pianist Noah Harmon and guitarists Stefan Hall, John Kolar, Jimmy Crimmins, and Matt O’Grady.  He has attended the UW Green Bay Jazz Camp and the Shell Lake Jazz Camp and will be attending the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camp in Louisville this summer.

 

Second place winner is clarinetist David Arguello of Omro High School. David studies with Noah Harmon and Joe Mattern. Third place winner is violinist Ian Schuh of Appleton West and the Renaissance School of the Arts.

 

This contest is open to all high school instrumentalists and vocalists in a seven county region of Northeast Wisconsin, with the winner chosen to perform with a professional accompaniment at the Fox Jazz Festival. This contest is sponsored by Heid Music, which provides gift certificates of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for the third place winners with matching awards for their school music programs.   

 
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 Saturday's headliner, sax/flutist Lew Tabackin on Saturday, September 3rd at 9:30am at Seton Middle School in Menasha. 

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