Students from the jazz department at Sacramento State traveled to Monterey Friday to compete in a nationwide music competition at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival.

Two Sac State students were honored for their outstanding musical talents at the festival.

Joe Berry earned an award for his soloist, tenor saxophone performance, and Jeryl Concetcion earned an award for outstanding vocals.

These competitions were held between Friday and Sunday at the Monterey Fairgrounds and exhibited students’ talents from the high school to the college level.

Sac State was invited to participate in three of the six categories at the festival; they received two of the six invitations in the open combo division, another two invitations in the college vocal ensemble division and an invitation in the college big band division.

Steve Roach, director of jazz studies, led the two jazz combos, One and a Half and Child’s Madness, in the open combo division.

Kerry Marsh, jazz program director, led the two vocal jazz groups, C-Sus and the vocal jazz seniors, in the vocal ensemble division.

And both Roach and Marsh led the large jazz ensemble in the college big band division. None of the Sac State music groups placed first in the competition, which would have given them the privilege to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival Sept. 17 through 19.

The group that went the furthest in the competition was the vocal jazz seniors, who placed second in their category, the college vocal ensemble division.

Joe Berry, senior jazz studies major and performer in both combos, said he enjoyed the Next Generation Festival even without winning because it is one of the most prestigious events in jazz.

“It’s very exciting for me and everybody to perform at the festival because it is a very high-end competition, where we’re being viewed by well-known judges in the jazz industry,” Berry said.

For the past two years, Marsh said he has been involved in the festival and is astonished by the fascinating artists who perform each year.

“There’s nothing that really brings jazz performers together and puts them on the same stage like this,” he said. “The event also features professional groups and jazz celebrities.”

Marsh said every year the bar is set higher and higher in regards to the competition offered at the preliminary festival.

“The caliber of the jazz groups has gotten higher,” he said. “There are more talented groups than ever before.”

Marsh said he was glad all community members were welcome at the festival so that those who do not know much about jazz could be introduced to these elite groups.

“The festival is meant to encourage jazz education to the public,” he said. “It also encouraged student growth in jazz because they were given feedback from the judges.”

Courtney Anderson, junior vocal jazz major and performer for C-Sus, said although they did not make first place, it was still a wonderful experience to see what other colleges were doing.

“This was a great opportunity for students to experience jazz and hear from different in house artists, like Dianne Reeves,” she said. “The only downside to the festival is that it was over to fast.”

John Saelee can be reached at [email protected]