Mr. Albert Bussey, Jr. Director of Jazz Studies

Update!

            The Ware County High School Jazz Band Under the direction of Mr. Albert Bussey, has just received official confirmation that they have been accepted into the 3^rd Annual Savannah Music Festival “Swing Central” High School Jazz band competition and clinic. Several bands submitted a recording for the panel of judges to evaluate the quality of the groups to be invited. 12 bands were chosen. This year groups will be competing from all over the USA. High school groups from as far away as California, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North & South Carolina & Georgia will be seeking the $5000.00 grand prize for their jazz programs.

          “This level of competition is much higher than we have ever had before”, states WCHS jazz band director Bussey. “This is a true national event and a great honor to be invited. We are going to prepare the best we can to represent our state and community well.”

          This event takes place April 3-5, 2008 at the Savannah Civic Center. This group will then travel to Chicago, Il. to compete there as well on the next weekend. Please make plans to attend the Waycross Jazz Festival April 21 at WCHS Performing Arts Center. This year will feature the Valdosta State University Jazz Ensemble and the Florida State University Faculty Jazz Sextet. This promises to be a treat for all jazz lovers.

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The Ware County High School Jazz Band has enjoyed a fine history since the consolidation of The Waycross City Schools with the new Ware County School System in 1994. In 2002, 2003 & 2004 this group has had students named in the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Band. Since 2005 this school has had the most student of any school in the GMEA District 8 Jazz Band.

Since 2003-2004 this group has been under the direction of Mr. Albert Bussey, Jr. During these years the band has expanded its performance venues to include several festivals and competitions and have only earned superior ratings at the highest music level.

We have performed at the Abraham Baldwin College Jazz Festival since 2004. In 2004 this group performed in Orlando, Fl. at the Music USA Festivals earning all superior ratings, 1^st Place Jazz Band and the Grand Championship Title for the best overall performance. In 2005 this band traveled to the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans, La. to compete in the Festivals of Music. This group again received all superior ratings, outstanding soloist award, the Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser “ESPRIT DE CORPS” Award and was the featured performing group for the awards ceremony.

In 2006 the WCHS Jazz band traveled to Savannah, Ga. to perform in the Savannah Music Festival’s 1^st Annual Jazz Band Workshop with Mr. Wycliffe Gordon and the Marcus Roberts Trio. This fine group also competed in the Atlanta Festivals of Music in 2006 again being awarded the Grand Championship trophy for the highest overall score of all instrumental performances and the trombone section was named outstanding section of the festival as well. To finish off an incredible festival season in 2006, this band earned a superior rating and hosted the 1^st Annual Waycross Jazz Festival.

We are equally excited about this year’s band.  In 2007, this group performed at The Savannah Music Festival and traveled to New York, NY to compete in the 2007 Festival of Music competition winning the instrumental Grand Championship. This group enjoyed the distinct pleasure of performing at the famed “Jazz at Lincoln Center” in New York for Clinician Dr. Loren Schoenberg. The 2007 2^nd Annual Waycross Jazz Festival featured Mr. Wycliffe Gordon and Mr. Bob Greenhaw.

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