KCMEA JAZZ DAY
2025
JAZZ DAY RETURNS ON APRIL 10!
The Kern County Music Educators' Association and the Bakersfield College Jazz Studies Program are pleased to announce the 8th annual KCMEA Jazz Day at Bakersfield College on Thursday, April 10, 2025. This all-day event will feature student jazz ensembles from throughout Kern County performing in the Simonsen Performing Arts Center Indoor Theater, with showcase performances by the BC Jazz Ensemble, the BC Faculty Jazz Combo, and the Kern County Honor Jazz Band.
All events in the PAC Indoor Theater are free and open to the public. See below for info and directions for campus visitors.
HEAD CLINICIAN
Our head clinician is trumpeter, composer, professor, and music publisher Jeff Jarvis. Jeff has served as Director of Jazz Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University Long Beach since 2005. He has composed and/or arranged over 175 published works for Kendor Music, Belwin Jazz, iJazzMusic, and UNC Jazz Press. His solo recordings as a jazz trumpeter and composer have won critical acclaim and placed high on national air play charts. His early career as a studio trumpeter encompasses over 100 R&B and disco recordings for such names as Lou Rawls, Michael Jackson, Melba Moore, The O’Jays and more. Live performance credits include Gladys Knight, Van Morrison, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Joe Williams, Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Henry Mancini, Slide Hampton, and Doc Severinsen. Jeff is a sought after trumpet soloist, adjudicator and clinician, making frequent appearances at educational jazz festivals, jazz camps, and music education conferences.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9:45-12:15 Morning Bands (Indoor Theater)
9:45 South High School Jazz Ensemble
10:10 Del Oro High School Jazz Ensemble
10:35 Highland High School Jazz Band
11:00 Foothill High School Trojan Jazz Ensemble
11:25 Taft High School Jazz Band
11:50 Ridgeview High School Jazz Ensemble
12:15-1:00 BC Faculty Jazz Combo w/Jeff Jarvis (Indoor Theater)
1:00-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-2:15 BC Jazz Studies Faculty Workshops (PAC Various Locations)
2:30-5:35 Afternoon Bands (Indoor Theater)
2:30 Showcase: Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble w/Jeff Jarvis
3:00 Showcase: Kern County High School Honor Jazz Band
3:30 Centennial High School Jazz Band
3:55 Arvin High School Crimson Bear Jazz Band
4:20 Stockdale High School Jazz Band
4:45 Bakersfield High School Driller Jazz Band
5:10 Shafter High School Jazz Band
INFORMATION FOR CAMPUS VISITORS
Visitors may park in student lot P3 at Panorama and Mt. Vernon. Follow the steps below to obtain a free guest parking permit:
1. Go to https://mycampuspermit.com/bakersfield-college.html
2. Click the red "Daily Permits" button.
3. Enter 4/10/2025 as both the "from" and "to" date, and click the blue "Buy" button.
4. Click the blue "Add Promo Code" button and enter the code RQ37CDXF
5. Enter your name, email, and license plate information and click "Purchase".
6. No need to print and display the permit. As long as your license plate info has been entered correctly, you will not be cited.
School buses can drop students off at the loop just east of PAC building, and then park in lot P7 at Mt. Vernon and University.
INFORMATION FOR DIRECTORS
Each participating ensemble will begin with a 25-minute private clinic in the band room (PAC-2). Your students will perform 1 or 2 selections for the clinician and get tips and feedback to polish and refine their performance.
Following the clinic, your ensemble will proceed to the Indoor Theater stage to give a 15-20 minute public performance of up to 4 selections. You will receive written feedback on this performance, and it will be professionally recorded.
There will be midday breakout workshops led by BC Jazz Studies faculty. Please plan to stay and attend as many of the day's events with your students as possible!
Food is not provided. Participants should bring their own lunch or visit The Dining Commons at Campus Center (burgers, pizza, burritos, salads, etc.).
BC will provide grand piano, drum set, congas, bongos, vibraphone, guitar and bass amps, cables, stands, chairs, solo and announce mics. Please describe any special staging needs in the application form below.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Participation is limited to 10 ensembles. Applications submitted after these slots are filled will be put on a wait list in the order received.
The application deadline for Kern County High School ensembles is Thursday, March 13. Junior High and Middle School programs will be considered after that date if there are slots available.
Registration fees are due by Thursday, March 27. Mail a check for $200 payable to KCMEA to:
Attn: Amanda Sproul, Treasurer
KCMEA
PO Box 22403
Bakersfield, CA 93390
Further details will be sent via email upon receipt of your application.
KCMEA is an approved vendor through KHSD. Please ensure that your check will be sent directly to the address above.
For information on credit card payments or other questions, please contact Kris Tiner at kris.tiner@bakersfieldcollege.edu or 661-395-4313.