Welcome to the home of the Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles!

Background information:

Hinsdale Central High School, in Hinsdale, Illinois, is home to three curricular jazz ensembles. We've performed extensively in the area and have worked with some outstanding composers and performers, including Fred Sturm, Frank Mantooth, Denis DeBlasio, Mark Colby, Steve Wiest, Jeff Jarvis, Brian Torff, Antonio Garcia, Rob Parton, and Doug Beach. 15 pieces have been commissioned by the band over the past 20 years, and all of them have been published. The most advanced band, Jazz Ensemble 3, is available for performances in the Chicagoland area from mid-October through May. Contact Mr. Waggoner at jdwaggoner AT hcjazz.org for booking information.

Our special guests in 2009-2010 will include the Chris Greene Quartet on the November 19 concert, special faculty guest vocalists on the Mardi Gras Concert on February 23, and guest composer Blair Bielawski - better known as Peter Blair - on the April 27 concert!

Two of our instructors at Hinsdale Central have recently released new CDs:

Saxophonist Chris Greene has released Soul and Science 2: electric boogaloo, which is available from CD Baby. (CD Baby was founded by HC Jazz Ensembles alumnus Derek Sivers, incidentally!)

Guitarist Aaron Koppel has just released "Falling Together, Falling Apart." It's available through the subscription-based label Chicago Sessions.

Congratulations to both of these outstanding musicians! We urge you to go buy their music!

SQUIB CAKES - From the April 21, 2009 Spring Concert:

Here is Tony Califano's video presentation from the Music Department Awards Banquet in May, 2009:

On Tuesday, February 24, the Jazz Ensembles presented the second annual Mardi Gras Benefit Concert. All proceeds go to Schools Count Corp., a non-profit corporation formed by former HC teacher Dick Flesher to help the schools rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This year our donations are specifically targeted for Sarah Reed Elementary School in New Orleans. If you would like to donate musical instruments or money to our cause, please use this form. As of Sunday, March 1, we raised $ 2,700 in addition to the instrument donations. Thank you for your generosity!

Please note that the address for the Schools Count Corp. has changed. It is now Schools Count Corp. NFP, c/o Dick Flesher, 20048 S. Kohlwood, Mokena, IL 60448.