District 21 jazz bands shine at local jazz festivals

Five jazz bands from Community Consolidated School District 21, representing Cooper, Holmes, and London Middle Schools, took home top honors at the 41st Annual Northshore Jazz Festival. Cooper and Holmes Jazz Band 1 tied for first place in the top bands division, Cooper and London Jazz Band 2 tied for first place in the second bands division, and Holmes Jazz Band 2 got third place in the second bands division. District 21 took five out of the six placements in the junior high divisions.

"It's considered an accomplishment to have one band from a district do this well at a festival, but to have five bands stand out like this is unprecedented," said Bryan Itzkowitz, Director of the Holmes Middle School Jazz Ensemble. "We're very proud of these students. It's fun to celebrate the accomplishments of the students of District 21."

This it not the first time in the district's history that the bands have been successful at the Northshore Jazz Festival. Since 2005, Cooper Jazz Band 1 has earned first place 10 times, and Holmes Jazz Band 1 has taken the top spot three out of the last five years. In the second bands category, Cooper and Holmes have placed first and second every year for the last 13 years. London has consistently placed in the top three in divisions in which it competes.

The musicians' success continued at the annual Jazz in the Meadows Jazz Festival. For the second consecutive year, the Holmes Jazz Ensemble received the first place trophy and highest score among 15 other middle school bands from across Illinois and Missouri.