Wheeling High School Jazz Band named Grand Champion at festival
Jazz enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest enjoyed the Rolling Meadows High School Music Boosters' 29th annual Jazz in the Meadows jazz festival held recently at the school.
The festival featured 112 jazz bands and combo performances representing 62 schools in eight performance rooms throughout the facility.
In addition to the student musicians, the festival featured the Lowdown Brass Band from Chicago. This 10-member ensemble put on an interactive clinic during the noon hour to a packed crowd in the Gilbert Theater.
Students learned about New Orleans-style jazz, heard the group play, and came onstage to play with the band. LDB members even went to the jam sessions to play along with the students. As the Grand Finale's closing act, the LDB brought the crowd to its feet numerous times.
Professional jazz musicians or educators adjudicated the school jazz bands and combos throughout the day, and awards were announced at the end of the Grand Finale concert. The concert featured the top-scoring band from each high school class, and from that performance, a Grand Champion was chosen.
This year's Grand Champion is Wheeling High School, under the direction of Brian Logan.
Class Soloist awards:
Junior High Class: Ethan Siau on drums, Grayslake Middle School
Class 1A: Thomas Schafer on trumpet, Marmion-Rosary High School
Class 2A: The drummer from Rich Central High School
Class 3A: Kevin Kapinos on trombone, John Hersey High School I
Class 4A: Matthew Young on tenor sax, Warren High School I
High School 2nd Bands: Morgan Treppa on trombone, John Hersey High School II
"Small School" Combo Class: Evan Main on piano, Bloomington North High School
"Large School" Combo Class: Kevin Kapinos on trombone, John Hersey High School I
Class Ensemble awards:
Junior High Class: Third place: Holmes Middle School (Wheeling); second place: Sperreng/Truman Middle School; first place: Cooper Middle School
Combos "Large School": Third place: Lincoln-Way East High School I; second place: Lake Zurich High School; first place: John Hersey High School I
Combos "Small School": Third place: Pattonville High School; second place: St. Patrick High School; first place: Bloomington North High School I
Class 1A: Third place: Monticello High School; second place: Limestone High School; first place: Shawano High School
Class 2A: Third place: Rich Central; second place: Vernon Hills High School; first place: Bloomington North High School I
Class 3A: Third place: Lindbergh High School I; second place: John Hersey High School I; first place: Wheeling High School I
Class 4A: Third place: Barrington High School; second place: West Aurora High School I; first place: Warren High School I
"Second Bands" Class: Third place: Warren High School II; second place: John Hersey High School II; first place: Lindbergh High School II
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