shows + events







2009/10 Season
Sneak Preview

A Night at
the Tropicana

Brian Moote:
Stand Up Comedy

Nancy Pearl

"The Many Moods
of Christmas"

Holiday Stories

Beverly Graham

Tingstad and
Rumbel

Firesign
Theatre

SWHS Jazz
Ensemble

The Vagina
Monologues

Simple Gifts:
The Music
of America

Shane Mauss with Brian Moote

Youth in Arts

The Rural
Characters

"Beauty and the Beast"

Libana

South Whidbey High School Jazz Ensemble.

The South Whidbey High School Jazz Program is considered one of the premier programs in the country, recently gaining notoriety as the smallest school to make the Essentially Ellington Festival Finals Competitionin NYC (2008), as well as finalist at the National Next Generation Festival in Monterey California (2009). Although we have garnered many awards over the past few years, the fact is South Whidbey schools have always had extremely strong programs in the hands of several fine directors such as Brent Purvis, Jackie Minchew, and others.

We owe much gratitude to our South Whidbey community, where the appreciation for the arts is strong, and the support of our district’s music program is paramount. We are fortunate to have an artistically informed and culturally hip community whose support encourages our efforts and inspires our artistry. In addition, we are very fortunate to have first rate private instruction available on our island, including: The “Burnin” Neal Welch – Saxophone (voted Earshot Jazz up and coming artist of the year 2009), Maureen Girard – Piano (President of the South Whidbey Jazz Educators), Lauren Anderson – Trumpet, David Licastro – Guitar/Bass, Levi Burkle - Guitar, Kitt Mills – Drums, Bill Martin – “Drum Master”. Finally, we must stop to thank our young directors who have joined us over the past few years. Jumping into a thriving program is adaunting task for any teacher, and we have been extremely fortunate to havefound the finest of young instructors in the talented Matt Frost, and most recently the inspiring Jess Foley.

Simply put: “Jazz is all in the Family”. We do THIS together. Everyone gets apiece of the pie, and everyone gets a piece of the credit.

We hope you enjoy this evening’s performance. We dedicatethe evening to you.

-- Chris Harshmann, SWHS Jazz Ensemble Director



From The Seattle Times

“Big bands are brewing outside Seattle, too. One district to keep an eye on is South Whidbey, clearly in building mode, with former Langley Middle School director Chris Harshman moving up to South Whidbey High School, and assigning the Langley platoon to first-year jazz guy Matt Frost.”

“Langley's funky set at BCC featured four soloists with heart: alto saxophonist Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews, trombonist Casey Fate, guitarist Jasper Hayes and bassist Keegan Harshman, son of band director Chris.”

“Langley could spell the beginning of an exurban dynasty.”

“That kind of continuity-- from parent to child, master to apprentice, sibling to sibling -- is what jazz is all about.”

“Langley continues to produce good players, including vibraphonist Amy Arand, who won a soloist award, and drummer Darby Hayes, whose energy and time were excellent.”