Ponderosa High School is excited to host the 9th Annual Gold Country Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 20th. The purpose of the festival is to encourage the growth of jazz education in area music programs. The festival’s participating groups receive written and recorded feedback from top jazz educators, as well as clinics with feedback creating an incredible learning environment. The participating schools are ranked, and individual medals are awarded by the adjudicators at the clinic.

El Dorado County’s participating schools include Camerado Springs & Pleasant Grove Middle Schools, Union Mine High School, and Ponderosa High School. In addition, there are 11 schools from the Sacramento region performing . In total the schools will yield nearly 30 ensembles for the community’s listening pleasure. I firmly believe that everyone has the potential to participate in music creation. I hope the festival events both encourage and inspire everyone to keep performing beyond school bounds.

Only by exploring the unknown can we truly understand the impact and creativity we possess. – Sophia Sumpo, Ponderosa High School Director of Bands

The event’s doors open to the public at 8:00AM and goes until the last note played at ~4:30PM at Ponderosa High School located at 3661 Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs on Saturday, April 20th. Entry can be purchased in advance at www.goldcountryjazzfest.org or day of at the door. Entry fees are $12 for adults, Senior (55+) passes are $10, Students aged 7-18 are $5, and Children 6 and under are free with a paid adult. Entry tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting https://ticketstripe.com/Gold-Country-Jazz-Festival-2024

So come on out and enjoy a day filled with live music as our community celebrates and showcases the student performers and their directors from across the Greater Sacramento Area. Between enjoying the sounds of the visiting jazz bands and combos enjoy snacks, breakfast, or lunch from a fully stocked snack bar and vendor booths.

As the date draws nearer more information as to the exact performance order will be found https://www.facebook.com/GoldCountryJazzFest/ or www.goldcountryjazzfest.org

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact [email protected] before April 6th to be included.