AJA IN THE NEWS

AJA featured on KUAT-TV As school districts struggle to educate young students, those subjects not subject to standardized testing tend to be considered frills and often disappear from the classroom altogether. In spite of the fact that statistics bear out that musical instruction improves students' performance in academic courses, the music often doesn't have the rigor. This story picks up where the public school music instruction leaves off. Watch the video »»

AJA musicians bring home awards — and scholarships

AJA Musicians Chris Kennedy (trombone) and Alex Weitz (tenor and alto sax) have been awarded full scholarships to the prestigious Berklee College of Music Summer Music Program this July and August.

Meet our Mother's Day concert guest artist Greg Fishman The AJA's special guest artist for the Mother's Day big band bash was Greg Fishman, a distinguished performer, recording artist, author, teacher and clinician. More info and links to his learning tools »»

Additionally:

• The AJA Basie Band "1st Place High School Band"
• The AJA Ellington Band "1st Place Sight Reading and 2nd Place Overall High School Band"
• The AJA Fletcher Henderson Band "2nd Place High School Band"
• The AJA Chick Webb Band "1st Place Middle School Band"
• The AJA Kenton Band "2nd Place Middle School Band"
• The AJA The AJA Jazz Workshop "3rd Place Middle School Band"
• The AJA Blue Note Combo "2nd Place Jazz Combo"
• The AJA Columbia Combo "4th Place Jazz Combo"

Saturday:

• Alex Van Slyke, Tenor Sax 1st Place Soloist
• Alex Weitz, Tenor Sax 2nd Place Soloist
• Max Goldscmid, Trombone 3rd Place Soloist
• Mara Penatzer, Piano 4th Place Soloist
• Chris Kennedy. Trombone 5th Place Soloist

Friday:

• Max Goldschmid, Alto Sax 1st Place Soloist
• Matt Bittles, Trumpet 2nd Place Soloist
• Chad Grossman, Tenor Sax 3rd Place Soloist
• David Scordato, Tenor Sax 4th Place Soloist
• Dylan Stringer, Alto Sax 5th Place Soloist

The following musicians won solo awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators for their solo performances`with the AJA ensembles;

Matt Bittles, Max Goldscmid, Alex Van Slyke, Gavin Tidaback, Sean Johnson, Mara Penatzer, Gareth Price, Miguel Otarola, Alex Weitz, Katie Tidaback, David Scodato, Reed Whitman, Perry Burton, Samantha Haeger, Omar Lincoln, Dylan Stringer, Jeremiah Kuntz and Patrick Wagner.

Your passport — don't leave home without it!

If you're going to take advantage of AJA's travel opportunities abroad, you'll need a passport.

New federal passport rules have led to a backlog in passport processing at the State Department. The agency estimates that it takes about 12 weeks to get a passport — so you don't want to delay getting your application together.

You'll need to get a passport photo, available for about $8 at many Walgreens and Osco stores in Tucson.

Find a passport application online, along with information about the documents you'll need and the costs involved, at http://travel.state.gov/ passport/passport_1738.html. You can fill out the application online, print it out and bring it with you to one of the offices that accept passport applications.

There are two Tucson locations that take "walk-in" customers with passport applications:

• The Postal Service's Coronado Station at 255 N. Rosemont, just north of Broadway, 9 AM-3 PM Monday through Friday.
• The cashier's office at Pima County Juvenile Court on E. Ajo Way, near South Kino Parkway, 8 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday.

Several Tucson post offices take passport applications, but by appointment only. Call ahead.

Don't put this off and risk missing out on the fantastic AJA opportunities to play abroad. Many AJA alums have said the 2006 AJA Europe trip was the highlight of all their AJA experiences.

Recommended listening

'Have the blues done left this town?'

See more videos or suggest an other video on our Jazz Elsewhere page »»

New home: 55 N. 6th Ave., 3rd floor

Thanks to all the students and parents who helped AJA move to its new home.

Our new location is 55 North Sixth Avenue. We are in the Old Sears Executive Building on the 1st Floor....lots of room, air conditioning wheelchair access, elevator ... a really great space and a five year lease!!

If you haven't seen the new location yet, find a map on our "Contact" page.

AJA sponsor: Bloom Country Florist

"I have been to J-Nippon and China Rose and seen the AJA bands 'Live' And the time has come to 'wake-up' and smell the vibrations of 'genius' coming out of AJA musicians."
— Sincerely,
John Hurbon
BloomCountry.com