CHS Percussionist at Grammy Camp in LA

Some kids dream of going to the Grammy's, but one local student is living the dream.

Cameron MacIntosh, a sophomore percussionist at , was selected last fall to participate in the 2012 Grammy Camp - Jazz Session. Band Director Peter Bauer told Patch, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Cameron, and we are honored that he will be representing Columbia High School and our two communities in this most prestigious program."

"While there have been many wonderful news events to come out of our music program, this is perhaps the biggest to come along in many years," Bauer added.

The Grammy Camp, formerly known as the Grammy Jazz Ensembles, includes 30 of the very best high school jazz musicians and brings them to Los Angeles to play and record and hang at Grammy week (this year: February 3-13, 2012). Expenses are paid for by the Grammy Awards. Members of the group perform with Grammy winners and nominees, at jazz venues and Grammy Week events – including the official post-Grammy celebration. They'll also record an album.

And they will go to the Grammy Awards.

The group includes players and singers, and join play and perform either in a big band, a combo, and a choir. The students area also eligible for more than $2 million in scholarships awarded each year by the awards college partners include Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New School University Jazz Program and the University of Southern California’s (USC) Thornton School of Music.

How did MacIntosh get so good?

The kids got rhythm and precision. MacIntosh began playing the drums six years ago. His talent was clear, and, by the age of 10, he started studying with the legendary Joe Morello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. MacIntosh has performed at , , the South Orange International Blues Festival, and numerous community events, restaurants and universities.