Ellington vs J-R jazz band programs

[Anonymous]

For a kid who is super into jazz band, anyone have experience with the J-R program?

My kid desperately wants to go to Duke Ellington, but obviously no guarantee she'll get in. J-R will be our in-bound school, and a 15-minute walk away -- so can't be beat for convenience! But the sheer size of the school's student population is intimidating from an outsider's perspective

She's at a small Catholic school now, so just about anyone breathing is allowed to participate. Is it hard to get into the J-R program, or registered for the right classes?

[Anonymous]

My kid loved JR jazz band, but it was marred by Covid so hard to give you an answer.

They were supposed to enter competitions in Philly and elsewhere in Spring, but those never happened and they never came back for the next three years so there was just a winter concert.

You should check if those things have returned to normal. If your kid has a decent shot at Ellington then I wouldn’t worry about making the JR jazz band.

The teachers are good, with one FT teacher (pfieffer used to be the teacher) and several jazz performers that also help out.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Just so that you are aware of other options:

DCYOP, the DC Jazz Fest, and Sitar Arts Center are starting a new jazz program this year:
https://www.dcyop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/JazzDC-Youth-Orchestra-Fact-Sheet-August2024.pdf

Blues Alley also has a youth jazz orchestra:
https://www.bluesalley.org/youth-orchestra

And folks from Banneker are working with the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation on a jazz institute there. No link yet but instruments have been ordered and students are meeting.

So there are outlets in addition to JR and Duke, although I'm sure that those are great options too, and I am also sure that there are more that I am not aware of. Others can mention those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so that you are aware of other options:

DCYOP, the DC Jazz Fest, and Sitar Arts Center are starting a new jazz program this year:
https://www.dcyop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/JazzDC-Youth-Orchestra-Fact-Sheet-August2024.pdf

Blues Alley also has a youth jazz orchestra:
https://www.bluesalley.org/youth-orchestra

And folks from Banneker are working with the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation on a jazz institute there. No link yet but instruments have been ordered and students are meeting.

So there are outlets in addition to JR and Duke, although I'm sure that those are great options too, and I am also sure that there are more that I am not aware of. Others can mention those.

Thank you! This is great info., and I knew none of it.

[Anonymous]

She will have no problem getting into Duke. JR band this year has no brass, mostly guitars, a few saxes. Not a great mix.