NICEVILLE — Four members of the Jazz Ensemble of Northwest Florida State College's recently earned top honors at the fifth annual Jazz Society of Pensacola Student Jazz Competition.
In the college division, Derick Masters of Crestview, playing bass guitar, received third-place honors, and Jarrod Rosenstock of Freeport took fourth performing drum set.
In the high school division, Dillon Buckley of Niceville won first place playing vibes and Skylar Purvis of Niceville, playing alto sax, received third place.
Competition winners received monetary awards for furthering their jazz/music education and performed April 12 at the 2015 Pensacola JazzFest in Seville Square.
The Jazz Ensemble of NWF State College includes performers who are among the best of the college's renowned fine and performing arts program. The group, led by adjunct music faculty and professional jazz musicians Fred Domulot and Tom Latenser, includes instrumental and vocal performers who appear in concert at the college’s Mattie Kelly Arts Center and throughout the community.
Scholarships are available for Jazz Ensemble members. Auditions are held in the spring term, and a final audition opportunity is normally held the first week of classes each fall semester.
Interested musicians who plan to attend NWF State College in August may participate.
Contact the Humanities, Fine & Performing Arts Division, 729-5382, for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man among top-honored Jazz Ensemble members