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'COTA Cats' perform at Jazz Festival

| 11 Sep 2013 | 01:51
    The 2013 COTA Cats Honors Jazz Ensemble. Pictured are: Lance Rauh (front right) and Ryan Curchoe (front left) with band members Anna Speer, Dencil Wilmot, Willy Mullen, Jason Feakins, Tyler Williams and Andrew Sorton.
    The 2013 COTA Cats Honors Jazz Ensemble. Pictured are: Lance Rauh (front right) and Ryan Curchoe (front left) with band members Anna Speer, Dencil Wilmot, Willy Mullen, Jason Feakins, Tyler Williams and Andrew Sorton.

MILFORD — On Sunday, Sept. 8, six Delaware Valley High School band members participated in the 36th Annual Celebration of the Arts Jazz Festival, held in Delaware Water Gap, Pa.

Anna Speer, Dencil Wilmot, Willy Mullen, Jason Feakins, Tyler Williams, Andrew Sorton represented the Delaware Valley music department in the Celebration of the Arts (COTA) Honors Jazz ensemble.

The “COTA Cats," as they are affectionately referred to, was founded in 1981 by festival founder, and world famous saxophonist Phil Woods. This prestigious group is comprised of jazz students from all over Northeastern Pennsylvanaia.

Starting in early August, the group began the season with intensive three hour rehearsals in preparation for the prime-time performance at the COTA jazz festival. In addition to the direction provided by the directors, the students were coached by some of the best professional jazz clinicians in the world.

Under the direction of Lance Rauh(front right) and Ryan Curchoe(front left), the band performed a program of six selections. The program included compositions and arrangements by world class composers written specifically for the COTA Cats.