By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After a one-year absence, the Sitka Jazz Festival is back, with student performers and professional jazz artists scheduled to perform at a three-day event Feb. 3-5.
Evening performances for the public will be Feb. 4 and 5. Adjudications will be Feb. 3, and student clinics all day on Feb. 5.
The last jazz festival was held in 2020 and drew students and music educators from around the state and professional musicians from throughout the U.S.
This year’s festival will be a little smaller in scale, but will still carry out the festival’s goals, said Sitka High music director Michael Kernin.
The original plan had been to sit out another year, but a conversation with another music director in Juneau and polling the kids in Sitka convinced him otherwise.
Timely grants from Sitka CHARR, Hames Corporation, Alaska Airlines and Westmark Sitka sealed the deal.
“I’ve had a couple other people send in donations as well,” Kernin said.
Signed up to participate besides the Sitka schools are schools from Juneau, the Kyle Athayde Dance Party, and a nine-piece jazz group. Returning regulars include music educator Bob Athayde and professional percussionist Ed Littlefield.
The schedule is still taking shape and more information will be published in the Sentinel later, but so far Kernin has set concerts for 7 p.m. Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 at the PAC, student clinics Feb. 5, and performances and talks in the schools. No brown bag concerts will be held.
“I feel good about having it this year,” Kernin said. “There’s a ‘generation’ of kids who don’t know how cool it is because of the one-year gap we had. ... It’s a little bit hectic right now but it’s going to be great. Some of our kids get a lot of musical fuel out of this, so I’m excited.”
