Three Denver School of the Arts students have been chosen to represent the state’s finest student jazz performers in the annual All State Jazz Group held at the Broadmoor Hotel in January as part of the Colorado Music Educator’s Conference.

Miles Fielder (trombone), Jeff Fajardo (drums) and Alex Baker (saxophone) all were chosen from statewide auditions to be in the all-star band that performs on Saturday, Jan. 25th. The performance is the culminating concert at the conference.

“It is indeed an honor for any school to have one student as a representative in this decorated ensemble, but to have three going is truly an outstanding affirmation of these student's hard work and determination,” said Dave Hammond, department head of instrumental music at DSA. “This is also a reflection of the ongoing commitment to jazz education at DSA, and a reflection of the community support for the jazz program at the school.”

Also, the Denver School of the Arts Jazz Orchestra Workshop brought home the top scores from the High Plains Jazz Festival held at Chaparral High School on Dec. 5th and 6th.

The group performed along side 36 other jazz bands from around the city, garnering among the highest scores of the festival with overall outstanding scores in both performance and sight-reading. Many of the students were decorated with “Citations for Outstanding Musicianship” including Colin Stranahan, Zach Wollerman, Tim Mendoza, Adrian MacGregor, Ian Smoak, Jesse Zunniga, Jeff Fajardo, Miles Fielder and Alex Baker. Judges included famed trumpeter Greg Gisbert, alto saxist Brad Leali and famed trombonist Fred Wesley.