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'COTA Cats' perform at jazz festival

| 23 Sep 2015 | 01:27
    Pictured (top left to bottom right) are Doug Ellison, Jake Stine, Erika Torres, Joe Baierlein, and Paul Torres (Photo provided)
    Pictured (top left to bottom right) are Doug Ellison, Jake Stine, Erika Torres, Joe Baierlein, and Paul Torres (Photo provided)

MILFORD — Five Delaware Valley High School band members participated in the 38th annual Celebration of the Arts (COTA) Jazz Festival, held Sept. 13 in Delaware Water Gap.

Director Lance Rauh all represented the Delaware Valley music department the COTA Honors Jazz ensemble. The “COTA Cats," as they are affectionately called, was founded in 1981 by world-famous saxophonist Phil Woods. This prestigious group includes jazz students from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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