The Boscov’s Berks Jaz Fest is all about making a difference in the community. Chris Heslop, composer, sax and clarinet player, educator, performer, chairs the Jazz Fest Education Committee. One of the challenges is getting kids to the Education Workshops. Get JazzEd Day of Education was formed. Chris Heslop says “A lot of schools hold a jazz invitational and competitions. We modeled that format but without the competition component … and made it fully educational”.

Get JazzEd Day of Education features 8 clinicians or professional musicians conducting workshops including, ‘efficient practicing’, ‘conducting new pieces’, ‘performing’, ‘improve your playing’ among others. This year’s featured artist is Tom Bones Malone, who Heslop says “has done everything in the music business”. Chris Heslop says the education committee reaches out to educate band directors and teachers about who the clinicians and featured artists are … which drums up enthusiasm for participation in the workshops.

By the way, opera has worked its’ way into Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest this year. Chris Heslop is scoring a piece about Mozart’s Librettist who lived in PA for a short time and did some business in Reading, PA. the productions is a collaborative effort between Collaboration between Berks Opera Company and Reading Theatre Project. There will be a one night performance April 8 at the Women’s Club of Reading.