Contact: Bob Adams
(425) 564-3081
badams@bcc.ctc.edu
BCC students sweep all 5 categories they enter at world’s largest jazz festival
BELLEVUE, WASH. - Bellevue Community College's students won first place in all five categories they entered last weekend at the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival on the University of Idaho Campus.
The results included the third first-place showing in the past four years for the college's 17-member vocal jazz ensemble, "Celebration!," which competed in the college multi-mic choir division.
BCC students also earned firsts in the instrumental jazz combo division and three soloist categories.
The jazz combo members are: Sam Balaoing, of Brier, piano; Devin Lowe, of Bellevue, bass; Andy Emery, Renton, drums; John Tezak, of Arlington, guitar; and Collin Sarchin, of Kenmore, sax.
BCC vocalists placing first included Megan Moreau, of Kenmore, soprano; Mia Gonzales, of Arlington, alto; and Michael Cabacungan, of Port Orchard, bass.
Celebration! is directed by BCC Music Instructor Tom Almli and is accompanied by the jazz combo.
The annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is the largest such event in the world, with approximately 20,000 people, including 10,000 students, attending.
Celebration! also was selected recently to perform at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Miami March 8 and 9 - the only college vocal jazz group thus honored.
The ensemble's next local public performance is expected to be in April at the Triple Door jazz club in Seattle, on a date to be determined.