Clark College Jazz Festival jumps into full swing

It’s before dawn at Battle Ground High School, where the campus’ three jazz bands are already rehearsing, and man, these kids can swing.

Bouncing on his heels, jazz band teacher Greg McKelvey snaps his fingers as he directs the school’s advanced group in preparation for — for what, exactly? It depends on the week.

After all, these students are always playing — and winning competitions — on ever bigger stages, in ever bigger cities.

“Think how this would sound if we recorded it,” McKelvey directs his students during their early morning practice as he walks, springing with every step, from one side of the band room to the other.

After the students’ success at jazz festivals locally and in New York — most recently, the Mingus Competition — the advanced jazz band is returning to headline the 55th annual Clark College Jazz Festival after winning the Dale Beacock Memorial Sweepstakes Award last year. The three-day series of competitions and concerts kicked off Jan. 26. Battle Ground will perform at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28.

Jan. 26’s performances featured middle school jazz band competitions. A and AA division jazz bands — groups from smaller high schools — will take the stage Jan. 27 at 8 a.m. Larger AAA and AAAA schools will compete Jan. 27, also beginning at 8 a.m. Final competitions begin at 7 p.m. on both days.

Clark College’s Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of director of bands Rich Inouye, will also perform at noon and 8:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 12:20 p.m. Jan. 28.

Admission is $5 per person per day.

The half-century-old tradition at Clark College brings jazz bands from across the state as well as Oregon to compete against each other. This year, 60 middle school and high school jazz bands are performing. The event brings as many as 4,000 people to campus, including about 1,200 students.

“It’s been going on for a long time,” Inouye said. “It’s really one of the biggest music events in Vancouver during this time of year.”

McKelvey, who has been teaching at Battle Ground High School since 1996, said its his students blend of talent and, more importantly, dedication that makes them such a stand-out group on both a local and national stage.

“I can teach them discipline and hard work,” he said. “Those are attributes you can take into any profession.”

Inouye, who has spent his entire career as a music teacher, lauded the region as a world-class hub for jazz musicians, saying few places can match the quality of jazz education in the Pacific Northwest.

“It’s amazing,” Inouye said. “It’s really been impressive.”

Music department program coordinator Shelly Williams described the event as a coming together of a community of a musicians.  Middle school students are able to watch high school students, and high school students are able to watch college students, giving each level motivation.

That’s bolstered by the fact that Clark College’s students manage the weekend’s events, with five student leaders hired to coordinate 75 volunteers. From set-up to tear-down, the entire event is student managed, she said.

It’s a strong system of role models, she said.

“If you give a kid a paint brush or a saxophone, they are not going to have something they shouldn’t in the other,” she said. “When they have a place to express themselves and become part of a community, they have a much better shot at it.”

The previous year’s winner of the Dale Beacock Memorial Sweepstakes Award does not participate in the competitions. That means students such as 18-year-old Battle Ground trombone player Riley Brown are looking forward to playing and just focusing on the music.

“It feels like our hard work has paid off,” Brown said.