Friday, March 11, the 12th Annual Whidbey Jazz Concert, featuring all six Middle School and High School Jazz Bands and Ensembles from Coupeville, Oak Harbor and South Whidbey, will be held once again at the South Whidbey High School auditorium from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

This annual, all-island fundraising favorite, sponsored by the Whidbey Island Jazz Society since 1999, has generated more than $70,000 in college scholarships for Whidbey Island High School seniors who continue their musical education. Last year’s scholarship winners included South Whidbey grads Eric Vanderbilt and Keegan Harshman, in addition to Oak Harbor grad, Madison Shipley.

For over 16 years, the Whidbey Island Jazz Society, a volunteer group led by Ginny and Jerry Jones of Oak Harbor, has played jazz for donations to provide these funds. The jazz society band continues its tradition of performing at Mi Pueblo in Oak Harbor on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m., entertaining audiences and allowing many of the high school jazz musicians to sit in. Whidbey Jazz Society also performs for numerous community events and dances.

The March 11 showcase of local jazz talent will feature the music of Oak Harbor Middle School, under the direction of past scholarship winner Patrick Manuel; Jamar Jenkins and the North Whidbey Middle School jazz band; Langley Middle School’s jazz band directed by Jessica Foley; Coupeville’s Middle/High School jazz band with director Jessica Barker; Oak Harbor High School’ band under the direction of Bruce Lantz, now in his 27th year at OHHS; and South Whidbey’s award winning jazz band led by Chris Harshman.

General admission tickets costing $7 are available at Click Music,1130 NE 7th Avenue in Oak Harbor, Timbuktu Coffee House, next to Texaco in Freeland, South Whidbey Commons, 124 2nd Street in Langley, and Boomerang at the Kens Corner Mall in Clinton.

A DVD recording of the evening’s jazz concert will also be available for $15 to further the scholarship proceeds.

Contact Jerry Jones at 679-2066 for more information.