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"Keyano's Jazz Fest convinced me to become a professional musician," says Robyn Duggan, an 11th grader at Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School. That's the pinnacle of any compliment an event can receive.

The Jazz Fest, an annual event hosted by the Music department at Keyano College was held on November 20 and 21. Started in its current form by Bill Prouten, Woodwind Instructor, Keyano College, in 2003, the Jazz Fest not only celebrates the genre but hosts workshops, adjudications and clinics for local and visiting music and band students with luminous guests from the field.

This year's guest artists from Vancouver included Tilden Webb on piano; Darren Radtke on bass; and Jesse Cahill on drums. Prouten accompanied them on the saxophone.

Duggan was one of many local high school students who attended the two-day event and was impressed. She plays the flute for her high school band and had attended the Jazz Fest for the first time.

"I learned a lot. This is a really great event for students. I had a mind-set that music is a hard way of making a living, but the Jazz Fest helped change my mind, when I heard professional musicians talk about their careers. The workshops were the best part of the event" enthused Duggan, 16.

Joseph Hoffman seconds that. A senior at Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School, he has been attending the Jazz Fest for the last four years. He says working with Bill Prouten is always great when he attends the event.

"Bill is so personable. He speaks to all of our band members to help us improve. It's always great to attend the Jazz Fest to be able to work with him and meet professional musicians," said the 17-year-old who plays the piano for his high school band and plans to write music professionally.

"I was very pleased at how the festival went this year in terms of how engaged the students appeared to be during the workshops and clinics; they looked like they were enjoying being there and that they were interested to know more about the music," says Prouten.