Shelton State Community College Hosts Third Annual West Alabama High School Jazz Festival

February 18, 2022 – Shelton State Community College will host the Third Annual West Alabama High School Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 26, 2022. The festival will be a full day event starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Bean-Brown Theatre on the College’s Martin Campus.   The festival is free and open to the public.

At the Festival, participating high school bands will perform selections for audience members and participate in master class sessions with guest artist Dr. Eric Siereveld.  All performances are free and open to the public, including the Finale Concert by the Shelton State Jazz Ensemble featuring Siereveld.

Dr. Eric Siereveld is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet, Chamber Ensembles, and Director of the Jazz Area at the University of Louisiana Monroe. He is a Bach trumpets performing artist and an active performer, clinician, and adjudicator. In Louisiana, Eric is a member of the Black Bayou Brass, the Lagniappe Brass, the Altus Trumpet Ensemble and is a regular sub for the Monroe Symphony Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at ULM, he lived and worked in New York City where he performed in Broadway pits (Elf the Musical, Addams Family, Young Frankenstein, etc.), big bands (Swingadelic, Stan Rubin, George Gee, Ed Palermo, etc.) and led his own group the Organic Quintet. Eric’s solo debut album, “Walk the Walk,” featuring the Organic Quintet, was released on the Shifting Paradigm record label in 2018. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Eric received his BME from Morehead State University, his MM in Jazz Studies from Indiana University, and his DMA in trumpet performance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His primary teachers include Greg Wing, William Adam, Joey Tartell, David Baker, and John Aley. Eric currently lives in Monroe, LA, with his wife, Sarah and their son, William.

“Shelton State’s Fine Arts Department is thrilled to be able to offer a performance opportunity for school jazz ensembles,” states Dr. Elijah Pugh, Shelton State Music Instructor.   “We hope to provide a high-level, jazz-focused learning experience for local students through our nationally recognized guest clinician.”

For more information about the Third Annual West Alabama High School Jazz Festival, contact Lillian Roberts at 205.391.2399 or lroberts@sheltonstate.edu.