Seacoast Jazz Society News
The Seacoast Jazz Society's Scholarship for SYMS and the 2010 Fall Series
The Seacoast Jazz Society offered its first Summer Youth Music School scholarship to Adam Claussen from Derry, NH this summer. The program is two weeks of intensive music experiences.
SYMS and Adam Claussen
Adam will be an 8th grader at West Running Brook middle school this fall. He has been playing alto saxophone since 5th grade. His parents are musicians, as well. According to Adam: He loved SYMS and has been getting together with his SYMS friends since the end of the program in early August. Adam says that his SYMS friends understand how he feels about music, instruments, and playing with a band.
His experiences in the UNH music program included his being placed with like-minded students, which was very important to him. By being with colleagues who were playing at a similar level, Adam made progress on his instrument. He said he was placed with a great band. As well, he got to actually play music daily with others. A typical day started with playing with a full concert band. He then played one period with all saxophones, after which he played a period with all wind instruments. He then returned to playing with the full band. Because Adam loves jazz, he auditioned for and was selected to play in the Johnson Jazz band, one of 4 big bands at the camp. Adam had many high points, but only one low point: "When I had to leave."
Seacoast Jazz Society
The Seacoast Jazz Society is twenty years old and is a local nonprofit that promotes the history of jazz, as well as promoting jazz events around the area, including music at the Press Room, the Seacoast Summer Jazz Festival, and the UNH Traditional Jazz and SYMS programs.
Additionally, the SJS offers a fall/winter music series beginning in September. This year, the series starts off with a lively discussion and listening event celebrating Dixieland music through the eyes and ears of Charlie Jennison (local musician) and Richard Lunt, local music historian and jazz expert. Their invitation states: Bring a favorite Dixieland Revival jazz CD or LP (turntable available) … or just come to listen and share your experiences and love of jazz. We will bring some of our treasured tracks. It’s a great chance to hear a variety of jazz recordings, get to know other jazz fans in the area, and reminisce about this significant musical era!
Stayed tuned for future SJS jazz events in the coming months! All these events are open to the public and are free of charge. Venue sites may change with each offering, so please check the SJS website for further information or note public service announcements detailing upcoming events. sjsjazz@gmail.com. Seacoast Jazz Society, P.O. Box 49, Durham, NH 03824.
Congratulations, Adam!