Just got back from a jazz festival featuring a dozen local middle school and high school bands, and the level of musicianship was astonishing. This year's Essentially Ellington competition in New York featured three bands from this area, out of only fifteen invited bands nationwide. The kids just got back from their trip, and this was their first chance to play together again since the competition. They were still pumped up and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
There were multiple players who soloed on multiple instruments, and everybody was professional-level (to my ears anyway).
There's no substitute for live music. The sound of a 20-piece brass orchestra never fails to stir my soul.
Support local music. Support music education.
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