Welcome to the WRHS Jazz Website

The first thing that I would like everyone to know is how absolutely excited I am to be a part of the jazz program at West Ranch High School.  I have great kids to work with, very supportive administration, a respected colleague in our band/orchestra director, and parents who seem to appreciate the work that we are doing.  It really could not be a better situation in which to nurture and develop the understanding and appreciation of jazz, the only real art form that is traditionally American, and to teach kids to play in the various styles that we call jazz. 

And that situation has produced results.  The jazz program here consists of two full jazz bands both of which have been successful in performances and in competitions.  The Studio A Band has earned scores in the 90”s in festival, and usually wins first or second place in the Advanced Division.  They have also been invited to play at the California Association for Music Education conference as a performing ensemble and demonstration group, in concert with profession pianist Keiko Matsui, and at Disneyland annually.  This spring, they will be recording a professional level CD and have been invited to be a special guest group at the Next Generation Festival of the Monterey Jazz Festival.

The West Ranch Lab Band, the typically younger of the two bands, now competes in the Intermediate division, which is the currently the same division of the top bands in the other high schools in our district.  In fact, in one of the festivals last spring, they outscored the top bands from two other high schools in our district taking first place in the Intermediate division at the Westlake Festival.

Needless to say, we are very proud of both of these bands and of the kids who play in them.  Please check our calendar for performances and come out to enjoy the music.  We will look forward to playing for you!

Bob Babko
Director of Jazz Studies
rbabko@hartdistrict.org
661 222-1220, ext. 645

Note:  Mr. Babko is former Jazz Representative to the CMEA board, past president of the California Unit of the International Assn. of Jazz Education, and was chosen as the state Outstanding Jazz Educator Award for 2006.

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