Wheeling jazz band wins major competition

For the third time in four years, Wheeling High School's jazz band took the top prize at the recent Jazz in the Meadows festival. The band was crowned Grand Champion after winning in its class and going on to perform the 1944 jazz standard, "Stella by Starlight," in the grand finale concert.

The performance earned them a standing ovation from the crowd of 2,700 people and a rare, back-to-back title in the Midwest's largest jazz festival, which this year drew 67 schools and 115 bands.

"Jazz in the Meadows is always a terrific performance opportunity for our kids and our band program," said Brian Logan, Wheeling H.S. director of bands. "It's a chance for us hear some of the best high school jazz bands in the Midwest, and an opportunity to perform for an extremely knowledgeable panel of jazz professionals.

"And," he adds, "the final concert is always spectacular."

This was the 30th annual edition hosted by Rolling Meadows High School and its music boosters program, and local schools fared well.

Vernon Hills High School won the Class 2A division, while Wheeling claimed the Class 3A title, with Hersey High School a close second; and Naperville North won the Class 4A division, just ahead of Warren Township High School in Gurnee.

Among combos, Naperville North and Hersey tied for first with their large ensembles, while Barrington placed third, and Wheeling won the small ensemble, led by its award winning soloist, Eugene Yakubocich, on alto saxophone.

In the middle school division, Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove won its third consecutive title, while Holmes Middle School in Wheeling placed second - its best finish ever.

"They continue to show a passion for improvement," said Bryan Itzkowitz, Holmes jazz band director, "and they really are starting to love the genre of jazz."

Students from both schools feed into Wheeling's program and take their strong background in jazz with them.

"We strive for our students to have a solid foundation in their playing skills, which then transfers over to the jazz program," says Cindy Severino, director of bands at Cooper Middle School.

Severino inherited Cooper's jazz program 10 years ago from former director Jack Major. Major began the tradition of entering his students into area contests, and Severino believes just as strongly in the value of preparing competition pieces and striving for a goal.

"We set our goals high so the music challenges students," Severino says. "They need to practice and gain the skills needed to perform the pieces with good style and accuracy.

"We believe that setting the goals high creates a high achieving group."

In the case of Holmes' jazz band, Itzkowitz points to one of his talented eighth-graders, Morgan Tadish of Wheeling, who drives his ensemble.

Morgan won top soloist honors among middle school students for her musicianship on the trombone. She was the only soloist selected out of the 15 middle schools who competed, Itzkowitz adds.

"She is extremely responsible and very focused," Itzkowitz says. "Oftentimes, she comes in to work before school or during her lunch period to improve the quality of her playing. Overall, she has helped to elevate our entire trombone section."