Local Students Win at Berklee High School Jazz Festival, Days Before Cuba Trip

Just this past weekend, Beaver Country Day School won third place at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in the Small Group Class Four division, beating out thousands of students from across the country. Beaver’s ensemble, comprised of two electric guitars, a violin, an electric bass and drums, performed three songs in their allotted 18 minutes (click here to watch a video of their winning performance).

Meanwhile, four of the five winning students are also gearing up to spend a week in Havana, Cuba from March 9-16 with Beaver’s Cuban Jazz class, led by Jazz Band Director Ana Norgaard. The class has spent the past year learning about the history of Cuban music, practicing a wide variety of Afro-Cuban jazz genres, and researching the needs of Havana communities for a civic engagement component of their trip. Bringing the experiences in the classroom to life, the students will explore the historical sites of Havana, practice with world-class musicians in intensive workshops, and perform for local community organizations including the Convento Belén.