Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Ensemble

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

HOOVER “FIRST EDITION” JAZZ BAND The Hoover High School “First Edition” Jazz Band is the top jazz band in our jazz program of 3 jazz bands and one combo. It is one of the many performing groups in our very active school music program. The group performs at numerous school and civic functions throughout the school year. Membership in the group is by audition. The group’s instrumentation consists of 5 saxophones, 5 trombones, 5 trumpets, full rhythm section and a vocalist. Hoover High School is a public high school in the city of Hoover, Alabama which is located just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. The group rehearses each school day for 45 minutes. This past year the Hoover First Edition Jazz Ensemble performed at the Alabama Music Educator’s State Conference with Wycliffe Gordon as our guest soloist. In March 2018 they, along with our other 2 jazz bands, received Superior ratings at the Loyola Jazz Festival in New Orleans. In 2017 First Edition was invited to open for the JALC Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at their concert in Birmingham on January 18, 2017. In 2016 First Edition traveled to Savannah, GA as a finalist in the Swing Central Competition. First Edition was also selected as a finalist in the Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Competition for four consecutive years 2008-2011. Also in the school year 2015-2016 the group was delighted to perform a concert and clinic with Jeff Coffin at Hoover High. First Edition performed at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, TX in January 2014. First Edition performed at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December 2012. As part of that performance, internationally known trombonist Jim Pugh joined them in a feature spot. In March 2012, the group received all Superior ratings at the Loyola University Jazz Festival in New Orleans, LA. First Edition has performed at the AMEA conference in 2018, 2012, 2004, and 2001. The group is also regularly represented in the Alabama All-State Jazz Bands. Twelve members of the current First Edition were in the 2018 Alabama All State Jazz Bands. In addition to performing numerous performances throughout the year, each April, in support of Jazz Appreciation Month, the group also presents a Just Jazz Concert.

Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Sallie Vines White teaches full-time at Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama. Mrs. White has been teaching in the Hoover City School System since 1990. She teaches the award-winning Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Band, Hoover Jam Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and AP Music Theory. She is also an associate director with the marching band. The groups she conducts have consistently received Superior ratings at contests including District, State, and Jazz Contests. Mrs. White is very excited that the Hoover First Edition Jazz Ensemble will be performing at The Midwest Clinic again in December, 2018. The Hoover First Edition Jazz Band first performed in 2012 at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago and was a featured performer in 2014 at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, TX. In 2017, First Edition was selected to open for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s concert in Birmingham, Alabama. First Edition has also received national recognition through its selection as a five time finalist in the Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Contest. Prior to that they were selected into the North Texas Jazz Festival and have received all Superior ratings the numerous times they have attended the Loyola Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Many of her students through the years have been selected into the Alabama All State Jazz bands. There have been numerous guests clinic and/or perform with her groups through the years including Jeff Coffin, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Tom Walsh, Andy Martin, John Fedchock, Jim Pugh and many others. Sallie Vines White graduated magna cum laude from Anderson University(IN) in 1982, with a B.A. in Music, Music Education and Psychology. In 1985, she received her M.M.E. in Music Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where she graduated “with distinction”. She studied Jazz at IU with David Baker and Dominic Spera. In addition to teaching Sallie is an active performer on all the woodwind instruments. She has played engagements as a side musician with Stevie Wonder, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Andy Williams, Joan Rivers, Ray Charles, Linda Eder, the Bill Gaither Trio and many others. She has performed as a musician in over 125 theatre productions in the state of Alabama. Sallie has played numerous engagements with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on saxophone. She plays lead alto in the Superjazz Big Band, and tenor saxophone in the Cahaba Saxophone Quartet. She toured for several years in various groups including Bridge, the Bill Gaither Trio, and college groups performing in 47 states and 17 countries. In addition to performing and her full-time teaching position, Mrs. White was formerly the saxophone instructor at Samford University for many years and has taught part-time in the past at a number of the universities around Birmingham including Birmingham Southern, UAB, Samford, and Montevallo. Mrs. White is married to Noah and has three children and five grandchildren.