Friday, February 26, 2010
By Alexa Harrison
Staff Writer
Junior D.J. Stanfill’s schedule is packed tight with extracurricular projectism. But unlike a majority of Costa’s students, Stanfill’s activities also include singing back up tenor for Sheryl Crow, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash.
Stanfill was selected to be one of eight vocalists in the 2010 Grammy Foundation jazz ensemble. Twenty-eight high school students nationwide made up the group, which was composed of 20 instrumentalists and eight vocalists. The participants were chosen from 600 applicants to take part in in an unparalleled opportunity performing for the music industry’s most well-known names.
“I sent in an audition DVD with the help of my piano teacher Gary Matsumoto. I was chosen as a finalist and ultimately a selectee from hundreds of jazz musicians across the country,” Stanfill said. “Brandy Johnson from the Grammy Foundation gave me a call to let me know I’d been selected to perform, and I was pretty excited.”
For his audition, Stanfill submitted a DVD of his renditions of classic jazz pieces including Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” and Ella Fitzgerald’s “Take the A Train.”
“We want to get a real sense of who the person is. It’s not just taking the eight best singers. You want students who will be able to work and perform together,” Senior Director of Education for the Grammy Foundation David Sears said.
Stanfill and his ensemble mates participated in 12 performances. Prior to their arrival, the selectees practiced and memorized 12 songs. In the time leading up to Grammy Week, they received phone calls checking on the progress of their practice and their knowledge of the songs.
“I left Jan. 23 and got back Feb. 1, but we actually only had two days of rehearsal, followed by seven days of performances,” Stanfill said.
Stanfill and the other selectees stayed at the Santa Monica Double Tree Suites for the duration of the week. The Grammy Foundation also provided the ensemble with food from restaurants such as P.F. Chang’s and Islands in exchange for their hard work.
“The best part was the musicality and professionalism of everyone there. Everyone knew what was expected of them, and they lived up to it as best they could. Not a single person there did not know what they were doing, and, therefore, the music aspect was extremely fast-paced,” Stanfill said.
“It’s very competitive. In order to make these ensembles, you not only have to be talented and skilled, but also focused and able to work in an extremely intense and professional circumstance,” Sears said.
The Ensemble performed at gigs such as The Person of the Year Awards, which honored folk performer Neil Young, Grammy in The Schools Live with Mindy Abair, Brian Culbertson and Boney James, a Spaghettini’s gig with James Moody, and the Grammy’s after party.
“I accidentally ran into Jack Black while going to the bathroom after one of our performances,” Stanfill said.
After countless hours of practicing and performing, the ensemble spent its last Friday at Capitol Records recording songs on an album for Capitol Records and mastering in Hollywood.
“In short, it was the most trying musical experience of my life but well worth the lost sleep,” Stanfill said.
In addition to performing and recording, senior students were eligible to receive scholarships from schools and universities such as the Manhattan Conservatory of Music, Julliard and USC’s Thornton Music School. The singers each received a Shure SM58 microphone. The Foundation also donated a set of Zildjan cymbals to Mira Costa’s music department.
“All Grammy ensemble selectees are also now able to join the recording academy, which makes us eligible to buy tickets to events like the Grammys. We got pretty cool jackets too,” Stanfill said.
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