With our state budget facing in such a dire crunch, music programs in our high schools struggle greatly. Many people overlook the talent of high school musicians, however, the Jammies, "A Celebration of Youth in Music & Arts", gives the community an opportunity to experience the talent of young performers, and support high school musicians.

The Jammies is a two-day concert series showcasing the best high school musicians in the Sacramento area starting Friday and ending Saturday.

At a price of $17-20 per ticket, Friday's concert will be held at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis at 7:30 p.m., and will showcase Classic music, which not only includes classical music, but also more modern jazz. Then on Saturday, tickets are $8 in advance or $15 the day of the show, and the concert will be held at the Crest Theatre at 8:00 p.m. This performance will showcase contemporary music.

Josh Murray, the director of the Rio Americano AM Jazz band, which is the school's top Jazz band, says of the band's upcoming Friday night performance, "We get to go out on a great stage and play for a large audience."

Rio Americano's band program is perennially one of the most talented and well known high school bands. In the past, the AM Jazz band has won the high school category at the Monterey Jazz Festival a record seven times, and it has been recognized as one of the top 15 high school Jazz bands four times since 2001 at the Essentially Ellington Festival at New York's Lincoln Center.

Says Murray of his AM Jazz band's participation at the Jammies, "It's always fun, and we're honored to share the same stage that many high profile musicians play on during the concert season."

Though the budget has pinched funding in small ways, Rio Americano's band program has not been affected for the most part due to private fund-raising events. "We're fairly safe", added Murray.

Rosemont High School Marching Band and Orchestra 21, Woodcreek High School Symphonic Band, Loretto High School Chamber Singers and Davis Senior High School Symphony Orchestra will also be representing their High School music programs Friday evening.

Sherman, another band comprised of Rio Americano students, is playing the contemporary music night at the Crest Theatre on Saturday. The band practices during "Small Ensemble" class at Rio Americano High School which is a class focusing on rock and roll and other modern music. 

Said the three members of Sherman to the Sacramento News and Review in its cover story of the event, "We don't have anything better to do fourth period."

Visit Jammies.com for the full lineup and more detailed program information.