Competition is back at University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

After 11 years, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho is officially competitive again. And some local schools are already reaping the rewards.

Moscow Elementary Choir from Russell Elementary School won the elementary school choir division of the competition Thursday night, directed by Lisa Steckel.

In addition, the jazz band from St. Mary’s Elementary School won the elementary school large ensemble division, directed by Nikki Crathorne.

Both performed at the Young Artist’s Winners Concert on Thursday as a result of the high percentages they received from some of over 50 adjudicators hired to hand out scores throughout the day. Those scores are based on everything from intonation, to articulation, to blend and balance said Vanessa Sielert, festival education adviser.

That scoring is different from years past, when ensembles could be chosen to perform without any clear reason as to why – in sum, it was not exactly a competition. And that lack of competition in years past has been a detractor for some. Bassist John Clayton, who became artistic director in 2006, hadn’t liked the idea of formal competitions.

“We had been hearing for years that students and directors really wanted to compete, and they weren’t coming back because of the change in direction,” Sielert said.

In 2014, the Daily News reported that overall ticket sales for the festival amounted to nearly half of what they were in 2009, about three years after Clayton took over.

Because the UI Lionel Hampton School of Music bears the same name as the festival, Sielert said, many have wrongly assumed the school would be able to address their concerns about the direction the event was taking. But for nearly 40 years, it operated independently of the school.

The festival appeared to be in good shape back in the day. Besides having twice as many sales in 2009 as it did in 2014, in 2007 it was awarded a National Medal of Arts, accepted by former university President Timothy P. White in a White House ceremony.

“This recognition affirms the vision shared by Lionel Hampton and the university about the power of jazz and education to bridge cultures, inspire creativity and develop the musical leadership abilities of the next generation of jazz leaders,” White said at the time.

Sielert said ever since the festival became noncompetitive, attendees have become discouraged.

Even Claudio Roditi, the Grammy-award nominated Brazilian trumpeter, seemed to hint at the need for competition during his clinic demonstrating techniques of Brazilian jazz at the UI Administration Building auditorium Thursday.

Roditi called the competition of big bands and jazz choirs both a beautiful thing and a must.

“The competition is what really made this festival great, OK?” Roditi said.

Now, in its 50th year, the festival is back under the wing of the School of Music where it originated.

With that power given back to the school, the festival now features three days of student competitions as well as workshops and clinics and an academic fair for visiting students.

Competing students will also receive recorded comments from the adjudicators scoring them.

“It’s a total educational package,” Sielert said.

And Sielert said educational aspects of the festival will increase in future years.

“It’s a nice feeling to know that not only were we able to make these changes this year, and we’ve had overwhelming, positive support from all the directors that are here, but we can also make additional changes educationally as time goes on, and we’re seeking the directors’ feedback for future years,” Sielert said.

More than 115 K-12 schools are in attendance from around the region, including nearly 400 soloists, combos and ensembles from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Winners of the competitions performed daily at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and will do so again today.

Prizes for winners include a rotating trophy and free entry to next year’s festival.