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JazzPA's Board of Directors: John Arrington (Treas.), Lea Asbell-Swanger, Russell Bloom, Catherine Dupuis (Pres.), Richard Fornicola, Bennett Hoffman, Richard Supina, Paul Tobin, Leslie Wagner, Paul Wagner (V. Pres.), Betsy Dupuis (Of Counsel).
JazzPA is a non-profit corporation in the State of Pennsylvania with IRS 501c3 designation. We welcome the opportunity to visibly acknowledge your sponsorship. Please contact us today. See you July 23rd and 24th in downtown historic Bellefonte!
In 2009, we mourned the passing of our founder Joe Alessandro. We dedicated our weekend of jazz to Joe, all he meant to the local jazz community as a musician, a mentor and a teacher. The festival celebrated the saxophone and the great saxophone legacy of Central PA, including Steve Bowman, Rick Hirsch, David Stambler and Dan Yoder, plus the incredible award-winning State High Jazz Band with their outstanding sax section led by Kevin Supina, under the direction of Rich Victor. We continue to thank Joe for making his dream come true, a jazz festival all of Centre County embraces!
JazzPA began as the State College Jazz Festival. The Festival is the dream of local saxophonist Joe Alessandro who convinced Catherine Dupuis to "make it happen!" In 2005, with the help of local residents Maralyn and Paul Mazza, the South Hills School and many generous sponsors, local and nationally-acclaimed musicians participated in a one-day summer jazz festival filling the South Hills School Bandshell and surrounding lawns and gardens with jazz music and enthusiastic community support.
Expanded to 2 days, the 2006 summer festival became a multi-venue event, moving to downtown State College PA and kicking off with a "Battle of the Big Bands" showcasing three fabulous local big bands (including the award-winning State High Jazz Band). A second day of music featuring local and regional artists culminated in an evening concert with legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, clarinetist extraordinaire Ken Peplowski and crowd favorites, the Russ Kassoff Trio. 2006 also introduced "music around town" featuring local bands in restaurant and club locations around downtown State College. The 2007 summer festival expanded to 3 days, incorporated the fabulous State Theatre and featured the jazz piano with pianists Arthur Goldstein, Billy Test, Russ Kassoff and Bill Mays, plus many local and regional artists.
2008 took the organization to JazzPA and the Summer Jazz Celebration. Thanks in large part to lead sponsor Columbia Gas of PA, the revamped summer festival, now in Bellefonte, was a huge success with three simultaneous venues running for the one-day event. Featured artists were Tom Malone and Byron Stripling, and both their morning master class and evening concert were extraordinary - and brought down the house, Bellefonte's historic Garman Opera House Theatre.
Catherine Dupuis' Personal Statement:
State College in Centre County is my hometown (State High '76; MFA PSU '85). My high school years were spent in Park Forest (State College) and on Buffalo Run (Bellefonte), but for the past 25 years I've lived and worked in New York City with a successful performing and recording career both on the stage and as a jazz vocalist. I attribute much of my success to having grown up in Central Pennsylvania where I was afforded so many positive performing experiences as a young musician, actor, singer and dancer. I received excellent training from my high school and private instructors, am a proud Boal Barn alumnus, and sang in a Choral Society children's choir and every Sunday in the choirs at Our Lady of Victory. Central PA afforded me the luxury of hearing bands live (like Buddy Rich's) as they passed through on their way between the "big" towns (thanks Mom for taking me!). While completing my MFA in Acting, I performed during the three years in mainstage shows and each summer for Centre Stage (once reconnecting with my high school leading man now Olivier award winner and hometown actor Robby Lehman). Other evenings were spent singing with Skip Wareham's dance band (with Joe Alessandro leading the sax section). I cherish that I got to grow up in Happy Valley and I'm continually impressed with all the musical talent that's here for the listening, generation after generation. Because I grew up in Centre County, my life has included irreplaceable (thank you Ira Gershwin) and wonder-filled experiences, including the miracle that is Grange Fair, the State Farm Show (thanks to my sister's award-winning jerseys and Muncy Mountain Farm), and hikes on Tussey Mountain with my forever Girl Scout friends. I continue to learn the depth and breadth of the history that is Bellefonte and Centre County - Thank you Bellefonte Secrets! I remain indebted to the JazzPA board for their constant and tireless efforts to bring this summer event to fruition - and to all of you who attend and support it and look forward to it each year. Hope I'll see you in July - no matter how busy I look, please stop me to say hello and introduce yourself. I look forward to seeing all of you.
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