The Jazz Ensemble class is an audition based, year-round music course offered at Bernards. Instruments that are typically in the Jazz Ensemble include saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Students who have been accepted and are enrolled in the program have the 42 minute class daily to study, perform, and practice the art of jazz music.

“Students enrolled in the course receive an intensive, broad based curriculum covering the practice of improvisation, theory, notating and performing transcriptions, jazz history and performing and understanding the stylistic differences of jazz through the ages,” says Mr. Trumpy, the band director at Bernards.

The Jazz Ensemble performs at a number of different concerts throughout the school year which showcase their hard work both in and out of school. In the past, the group has travelled to Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, California, Florida, Virginia, and many other locations in to put on performances.

The Jazz Ensemble is releasing their annual holiday album for sale this year. 100% of the profits earned will be going to the “Give Kids The World” resort and The Children’s Brain Tumor Project. The “Give Kids The World” village is a nonprofit resort for children with life-threatening illnesses, located in central Florida. At this resort, the children and their families get to spend weeklong vacations for no cost. The Children’s Brain Tumor Project is an organization that raises awareness for research and investigation of new brain tumor treatments.The winter holiday albums will be available for purchase in the main office starting on December 1st.

If you are passionate about jazz music and are interested in joining the Jazz Ensemble, speak to your guidance counselor or to Mr. Trumpy for ways to get involved.