Pennsbury Bands

Stan Kenton Award

The Stan Kenton Award is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates superb musicianship, significant achievement in the jazz idiom and personifies the tradition of the Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band. Their name will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed in the lobby of Pennsbury High School as well as having their name listed annually in the Jazz at Pennsbury program.

Award Recipients

2010 — Dylan Principi

2009 — Matthew Adler

2008 — Patrick Bailey

2007 — Eric Dorr

2006 — Bryan Krawiec & Eli Winderman

2005 — Carly Zubrzycki

2004 — Laura Foxx

2003 — Douglas Sarver

2002 — David Doyle & Jonathan Rees

2001 — Adam P. Dickson

2000 — Jason Niemiec

1999 — Matthew Labar

1998 — Justin P. Benner

1997 — Jonathan R. Shulan

1996 — Meredith J. Borger & Adam Warshafsky

1995 — Laurel Passantino

1994 — Mark Behrle & Brian Canada

1993 — Daniel Weiner & Paul Bauman

1992 — Brent Courtney

1991 — Mark Capriotti

1990 — Joe Monagle

1989 — Alan Miller & Mark Brunnett

1988 — Alan Filer

1987 — Paul Sabourin

1986 — Ron Morchauser & Fred Rosen

1985 — L Michael Randall

1984 — Rick Sabourin

1983 — Dave Rice

1982 — Bill Larason

1981 — Ted Polaski & Scott Chamberlain

1980 — Shaun Callen

1979 — Jeff Davis & Frank Ehrinfeld

1978 — Amy Drescher

1977 — Drew Gress

1976 — Jim Barto

1975 — David Labman

1974 — Craig Stafford

Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton was born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised first in Colorado and then in California. In June 1941 he formed his own band, which developed into one of the best-known West Coast ensembles of the Forties. In the Mid 40's Kentons' Band and style became known as "The Wall of Sound", a tag later used by Phil Spector.

Kenton's music, which could be intensely dissonant, made use of powerful brass sections and unconventional saxophone voicing that showed Kenton's love of experimenting, reflected in the names he gave his ensembles: "Innovations Orchestra," "Neophonic Orchestra," and "Mellophonium Orchestra." Kenton's theme song from the early days to the last was called, significantly, "Artistry in Rhythm." He avoided compromising his idea of jazz to please either critics or public. In Stan's later years the bandleader's attention was on jazz education; he conducted a countless number of clinics, and made his charts available to college and high-school stage bands of which many currently reside in the Pennsbury High School library. In the late 60's and early 70's the Stan Kenton Orchestra performed annually at Pennsbury High School. He continued to lead and touring with his big band up until his death on August 25, 1979. Stan suffered a stroke a week earlier. He was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles.

Alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra read like a who's who in jazz. Most notable are: Conte Candoli, Peter Candoli, Buddy Childers, Maynard Ferguson, Carl Fontana, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Holman, Lee Konitz, Willie Maiden, Shelly Manne, Vido Musso, Lennie Niehaus, Art Pepper, Frank Rosolino, Shorty Rogers, Dick Shearer, Bud Shank, Zoot Sims, and Kai Winding. Famed vocalists would include: Anita O'Day, June Christy, and Chris Connor as well as The Four Freshmen.

The Pennsbury Instrumental Music Department had enjoyed a relationship through the 1970's with band leader Stan Kenton. It was an annual event to have the Stan Kenton Orchestra at Pennsbury High School.