Farmington to take part in jazz festival
Trumpet player Serafin Aguilar of Los Angeles headlines the 19th Annual North County Jazz Festival this Friday and Saturday.
Aguilar will play in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday with the NC Jazz Ensemble and the Mineral Area Kicks Band to end the two-day festival. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Children under 6 are admitted free.
Aguilar has been a professional trumpet player for almost two decades spanning a wide range of styles. From Latin to pop to jazz, this amazing trumpet phenom has quickly gained critical acclaim throughout the industry, and the world, for his strong musical abilities as not only a world class lead player but also a soloist. Having toured the world extensively, Aguilar has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Red Sea Jazz Fest in Eilat, Israel, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. He has played in recordings or toured with: American Idol House Band ’09, Ray Charles, Ricky Martin, Billy Preston, Luis Miguel, Queen Latifah, Shakira, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Terrence Howard, Cristian Castro, Maynard Ferguson, Poncho Sanchez, James Moody, Frankfurt Radio Big Band, and the Glen Miller Orchestra.
“We are excited to have Serafin Aguilar as our guest artist,” said Shane Verges, Director of Bands for North County High School. “I’m sure his performance will inspire our students and entertain our audience.”
Earlier Saturday, Aguilar will lead a clinic for jazz students from throughout southeast Missouri whose bands will play in free concerts during the day. Jazz will fill the air as 11 bands play in the high school auditorium. The free concerts begin at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Farmington High Jazz Lab Band, followed at 8:30 a.m. by the Farmington High School Jazz Ensemble. The remainder of the schedule includes:
• 9 a.m. – Dexter High School Jazz Ensemble
• 9:30 a.m. – North County Middle School Jazz
• 10 a.m. – Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble
• 10:30 a.m. – Northwest High School Jazz Ensemble
• 11 a.m. – Potosi Middle School Jazz Band
• 11:30 a.m. – North County High School Jazz Ensemble
• Noon -1:15 p.m. – Lunch Break
• 1:15 p.m. – Clinic by Guest Artist Serafin Aguilar
• 2 p.m. – Potosi High School Jazz Ensemble
• 2:30 p.m. – Dexter Middle School Jazz
• 3 p.m. – Farmington Middle School Jazz Band
An awards ceremony will begin about 3:45 p.m. Concessions will be available throughout the day Saturday.
The festival kicks off Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Pasta Dinner sponsored by the NC Band Boosters. Tickets at the door are $5, and $3 for senior citizens and students. The North County Middle School Jazz Band performs at 5:15 p.m. and the NC Jazz Ensemble performs for diners about 6 p.m.
