Music contest open to students
Winner will play onstage with musical legend

Organizers at the Ventura Music Festival will select one high school student to play on stage with Latin jazz legend Poncho Sanchez on Feb. 16 in the Student Jazz Competition.

The contest is open to all students proficient in instruments appropriate for a Latin jazz band, such as horn, percussion and wind. There is no cost to enter the contest, which is open to all Ventura County high school students.

Applicants will submit one song recorded on CD. Entries must be received no later than Jan. 15.

Entries must include a label with the following information: student name, age, address, telephone number and email address; school name; music teacher name and contact information; and name and composer of the song recorded by the student.

Mail CD entries to the Ventura Music Festival, 89 S. California St., Ventura, CA 93001.

All contest entries will receive discount tickets to see Poncho Sanchez at the festival concert on Feb. 16. The winning student will receive complimentary tickets for each member of his or her school band.

Sanchez was born in Texas in 1951 but grew up in the Los Angeles area. He has teamed with a number of top artists including trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Eddie Harris, Latin jazz patriarch Tito Puente and the late Ray Charles.

For contest information, call the Ventura Music Festival office at (805) 648-3146.