By Natasha Ettensberger
Jazz Band students from both campuses performed in the Second Annual Independent School Jamfest â A Benefit for MusiCares on Sunday, March 9 at the Knitting Factory.
Bridges Academy contacted Starr Wayne, middle school instrumental music teacher, and invited Harvard-Westlake to the benefit concert. Wayne also took students to perform last year.
Bridges Academy organized the whole event, and also asked Oakwood School musicians to participate. Harvard-Westlake Middle School was the only middle school invited to play.
The concertâs purpose was to raise money for Musicares, the fundraising arm of the Grammy Awards. The organization funds school music education in the United States and âprovides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need,â according to the concert program.
The whole event was underwritten by the Al Sherman Foundation, allowing for proceeds to go directly to the education cause instead of paying off costs.
The Knitting Factory on Hollywood Boulevard was chosen for its reputation as a hip and upcoming jazz club to attract top people, Wayne said
Wayne and Shawn Costantino, upper school instrumental music teacher, prepared a select number of jazz students to perform a couple of combos for the concert.
Students who were chosen to perform were Chase Basich â11, Jordan Bryan â11, Lily Einstein â11, Chris Freedman â12, Jason Garfinkel â11, Evan Jackson â11, Sam Ruddy â11, Alex Scharch â11, Kevin Schwarzwald â11, Ernie Zaferis â11, Nicole Rafidi â08, Max Druz â10, Gaby Leslie â10, Michael Richardson â09, Jimmy Shaw â09, and Julia Steinberg â08.
Genres varied from 50âs rock ân roll to jazz, along with some âindie styleâ vocals.
The students sold raffle and admittance tickets prior to the event in order to acquire school community service credit.
In attempts to âstep it upâ this year, Bridges chose a variety of prizes for the raffle portion of the concert.
Guitar Center, My Chemical Romance, Maroon 5, Sound City Studios, and the Grammy Organization donated raffle prizes. They ranged from autographed band items to an electric guitar.
Around a couple hundred people attended the fundraiser. $2,500 was raised in total.
âEveryone seemed to have a really great time. The musicians sounded excellent,â said Wayne.
