The Bedford Middle School Jazz Band was selected to perform as a Showcase Ensemble at the 2026 Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) All-State Conference, an honor reserved for a small number of outstanding school ensembles across the state. The group performed on March 27 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

Directed by Gregg Winters, the ensemble of approximately 25 student musicians presented a 30-minute program of four pieces demonstrating both stylistic range and musical independence. The performance included “Front Burner,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” and “On Broadway,” representing a variety of jazz styles including swing, Latin, and contemporary repertoire.

A distinguishing feature of the performance was that all students in the ensemble performed improvised solos, reflecting a program-wide emphasis on developing fluency in the language of jazz and individual musicianship in these early years of jazz education.

Students in the jazz band are part of Bedford Middle School’s broader specialty ensemble program, with performance opportunities throughout the year, including events such as the WestConn Jazz Festival and the school’s Jazz & Java concert.

“The audience at the conference included jazz musicians and educators from across Connecticut, and the response to the group was extremely positive,” said Stephen Zimmerman, Music and Visual Arts Coordinator for Westport Public Schools. “Many commented on the level of training behind the performance, including the fact that every student was able to improvise, their familiarity with the language of jazz, and the authenticity of their style. Those kinds of observations, coming from experienced educators, speak volumes about the work happening in the program.”

Performing at the CMEA All-State Conference provided students with the opportunity to represent their school on a statewide stage while engaging with peers and educators from across Connecticut.

Westport Public Schools congratulates the Bedford Middle School Jazz Band, director Gregg Winters, and the Bedford music community on this outstanding achievement.