Carey jazz students shine

The Carey Jazz Ensemble’s trumpet section, including 11th-graders Michael Campagna, Christopher Rodriguez, Daniel Barbarito and Michael Acierno.

Courtesy Hope Bagley

The Carey Jazz Ensemble Saxophone section, including Alexa Maino, grade 10; Jessica Altieri, grade 12; Liam O'Grady, grade 9; Christina Gavalas, grade 12; and Victoria Pitz, grade 9.

Courtesy Hope Bagley

H. Frank Carey High School's saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections in performance, at the 2012 Berklee Jazz Festival.

Courtesy Hope Bagley

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Twenty students from H. Frank Carey High School’s Jazz Ensemble competed at the Berklee College of Music’s 44th annual High School Jazz Festival on March 10, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Up for grabs was $175,000 in scholarships to Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

More than 3,000 students and 200 bands from 131 high schools, as well as vocal ensembles nationwide and from Canada, participated in the event. Carey was one of only 15 New York schools to compete.

While no Carey students applied for Berklee scholarships this year, the school wasn’t lacking awards — Carey student and bassist Ivan Karlovic received the judges' Choice Award for Outstanding Ensemble Member.

“The trip brought us closer than we were before,” said Victoria Pitz, 14, a Carey student who plays the alto saxophone and clarinet. “Our jazz band is like a family and it was great to both play together, and to laugh and have fun ... I would love to go back next year.”

Carey student Alexa Maino, 15, on alto saxophone, shared similar sentiments. "Berklee was a very fun experience that challenged us as a band. It was very cool to play our music in Boston."

The festival included performances by Berklee’s Tower of Power and P-Funk ensembles, the Berklee Rainbow Band, and the Berklee City Music High School Academy; and clinics and concerts by renowned musicians.

“The concerts and clinics we went to were full of soul,” said Carey student Sean Karl, 16, who plays the baritone horn. “The overall atmosphere of the festival was very joyous, so everything overall was absolutely amazing.”

Frank Rein, of Princeton High School, received the festival’s Herb Pomeroy Jazz Composition/Arranging Contest Award for his piece, “I Think I’ll Miss You Most Of All,” which was later performed by the Berklee Rainbow Band.

According to Hope Bagley, a member of Carey’s Instrumental Music Faculty, Carey’s audition-based Jazz Ensemble has been participating in the Berklee Jazz Festival since 2009, and students are selected based on musicianship and dedication.