Crossroads News
Jazz “A” Band Performs in Panama Jazz Festival
Students invited back for the second year.
For the second year in a row, the Jazz “A” Band from Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences was invited to perform in the Panama Jazz Festival, which unites internationally acclaimed jazz artists, renowned educators and jazz fans from around the globe. The band performed in the six-day festival on Jan. 15.
“We are thrilled because we were the only high school given the opportunity to perform in the festival,” says band director Evan Avery. “We performed three jazz standards and original tunes written by students Taylor Mackall ’15, Mackenzie Cregan ’15, Luca Mendoza ’17 and Leo Yablans ’17.”
During their trip, several members of the band were selected to perform in the first Pan-American Millennial All-Stars ensemble with musicians from Panama City’s Danilo Perez Foundation. Students also taught a 90-minute jazz master class for local musicians.
When not working, the students had the opportunity to canoe in the River Mamoni and spend three days hiking and swimming in the rainforest.
