On April 7, 2018, the PALCS Center for Performing Arts (CPFA) Jazz Mavericks made a trip to New York City to participate in their first overnight performance trip. They attended the NYC Jazz Festival at the historic Apollo Theater, located in Harlem.

The band had been fundraising and looking forward to the trip to New York City all year. The Jazz Mavericks group provides students a unique opportunity to study the art of music in depth as performers, listeners, arrangers, and composers.

The CPFA Jazz Mavericks are in their fifth year of existence here at PALCS. Students in the jazz program learn the mechanics of their instrument, music theory, improvisation, and composition. They learn and memorize jazz standards, perform in a combo setting regularly, and even write their own original jazz pieces.

This coming summer, the Jazz Mavericks are beginning a new jazz enrichment program that is open to middle school and high school students from all over the Greater Philadelphia area.

CPFA is a cyber-blended pre-professional arts program for students in grades 6-12 enrolled in PALCS. CPFA opened in the fall of 2005 and today has an enrollment of more than 200 middle and high school students. Students study four main disciplines: theatre, music, dance and fine arts. CPFA is currently accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year.

Congratulations to the Jazz Mavericks and all involved for coming such a long way and continuing the tradition of this historic genre. We can’t wait to see what adventures lie ahead for these musicians!