American Music Program Explained

The American Music Program (née Pacific Crest Sinfonietta, Cultural Recreation Band) is a youth jazz band in Portland, Oregon founded by jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator Thara Memory. This non-profit youth music program mentors primary school students from 7th-12th grade. On May 9, 2015, the group won Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Competition, playing Ellington's Tattooed Bride from memory.[1]

History

Under the direction of Thara Memory, Greg McKelvey, and Ronnye Harrison the Cultural Recreation Band was founded in 1983. This multicultural performing orchestra served inner city youth primarily in Portland, Oregon's Albina District. Students in the program competed in state and regional jazz band competitions.

Expanding its reach throughout Portland's metropolitan area suburbs, the non-profit 501(c)3 Pacific Crest Sinfonietta was founded by Thara Memory and LeAnn Kritz in 2005. Students in the group came from Beaverton's Arts and Communications Magnet Academy as well as Portland's Metropolitan Youth Symphony. The program has since enrolled middle school and high school students throughout the greater Portland metropolitan area.[2]

Changing its name to American Music Program, the band has performed in competitions across the country, including the Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center,[3] [4] [5] [6] the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey,[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] the Charles Mingus Festival and Competition,[12] [13] Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Swing Central at the Savannah Music Festival, and locally at events such as the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival and the PDX Jazz Forward Competition.[14]

American Music Program students have performed with musicians such as Obo Addy,[15] Bennie Maupin,[16] Chuck Redd, Curtis Salgado,[17] Esperanza Spalding,[18] Terell Stafford, and Randy Weston.[19]

Notable achievements and alumni

Upon high school graduation, AMP alumni have attended colleges such as The Juilliard School,[20] [21] Berklee College of Music,[22] [23] Manhattan School of Music, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, USC Thornton School of Music,[24] [25] California Institute for the Arts, Oberlin College Conservatory, among others.[26] Students in the band have been selected for the Jazz Band of America, The Grammy Band,[27] and The Monterey Next Generation Jazz Band.[28] [29] Youth members have received scholarships to attend the Berklee College of Music's summer programming and the Vail Jazz Workshop.[30] Students in the band have participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, PDX Jazz Project, and Alan Jones Academy of Music.

American Music Program Alumni include Esperanza Spalding, Domo Branch, Charlie Brown III, Hailey Niswanger,[31] Aubrey Cleland,[32] and Patrick Lamb.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. News - National News. 12 July 2016. ABC News.
  2. Web site: Musicians | American Music Program . 2015-04-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150514043754/http://www.ampjazz.org/musicians/ . 2015-05-14 . dead .
  3. Web site: Jazz at Lincoln Center announces 15 Finalists for the 2015 Essentially Ellington Competition. 12 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Jazz at Lincoln Center announces 2013 Essentially Ellington Finalists. 12 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Winners of 16th Annual Essentially Ellington Competition 2011. 12 July 2016.
  6. Web site: JALC Announces Winners of 14th Annual Essentially Ellington. 12 July 2016.
  7. Web site: Oregon Music News - Oregon's only all-genre, online music magazine covers music news and events in Portland and throughout the state.. 12 July 2016.
  8. Web site: 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival Results - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  9. Web site: 2014 Next Generation Jazz Festival Results - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Congratulations to the 2013 Next Generation Jazz Festival Top Groups! - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  11. Web site: Monterey Jazz Festival Announces Next Generation Jazz Festival Results - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  12. Web site: 2015 7th Annual Mingus Festival & Competition Highlights - Charles Mingus: The Official Site. 12 July 2016.
  13. Web site: 2014 6th Annual Mingus Festival & Competition Highlights - Charles Mingus: The Official Site. 12 July 2016.
  14. Web site: PDX Jazz Forward - Music. Moving.. PDX Jazz. Forward. 12 July 2016.
  15. Web site: Musical Reunion. 11 March 2009 . 12 July 2016.
  16. Web site: Oregon Music News - Oregon's only all-genre, online music magazine covers music news and events in Portland and throughout the state.. 12 July 2016.
  17. Web site: Curtis Salgado with Pacific Crest American Music Program Jazz Orchestra. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cvgAhUYXRHI . 2021-12-21 . live. AMPJazz. 25 April 2010. 12 July 2016. YouTube.
  18. Web site: Oregon Music News - Oregon's only all-genre, online music magazine covers music news and events in Portland and throughout the state.. 12 July 2016.
  19. Web site: Error 404 - Portland Monthly. 12 July 2016. https://archive.today/20150426001151/http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/events/randy-westons-african-rhythms-in-tribute-to-obo-addy-september-2013. 26 April 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  20. Web site: Cannon Beach teen Lake Jiroudek heads to Juilliard with a jazz guitar. 22 July 2012 . 12 July 2016.
  21. Web site: Grammy Winner Esperanza Spalding Headlines Benefit Concert For Jazz Education. Dan. Sadowsky. 12 July 2016.
  22. Web site: VIDEO: Presidential Scholar Kama Bell - Berklee College of Music. 12 July 2016.
  23. Web site: Kama Bell: Berklee College of Music 2011 Presidential Scholar. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_nXiu1RGZ_Y . 2021-12-21 . live. Berklee College of Music. 2 July 2012. 12 July 2016. YouTube.
  24. Web site: Ted Case - Catlin Gabel School. 12 July 2016.
  25. Web site: Aaron Reihs - Gresham-Barlow Web Academy. 12 July 2016.
  26. Web site: Alumni. 26 September 2012. 12 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325164833/http://www.ampjazz.org/main/alumni/. 25 March 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: West Linn sax player, 17, will tour with Grammy band, open for Mel Brown Septet. 20 December 2007 . 12 July 2016.
  28. Web site: 2010 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  29. Web site: 2013 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra - 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. 12 July 2016.
  30. Web site: VAIL JAZZ - Vail Jazz. 12 July 2016.
  31. Web site: Bio. 12 July 2016.
  32. Web site: AMPJazz. 30 January 2010. AMP @ Clark College Jazz Festival 2010: Part 1: A Tisket a Tasket. live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/gVeYrTLWWAw. 2021-12-21. 12 July 2016. YouTube.

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