The OHS Jazz Band participated in the Iowa Jazz Championships earlier this month in Ames. At the conclusion of the competition season, the 15 top jazz bands in the state in each class are invited to perform at the Iowa Jazz Championships. Bands earn a bid by placing first or second at district competition or by receiving one of seven “wild card” entries. The OHS Jazz Band placed second to West Lyon at districts in February. At IJC each band plays once during the day and the top eight are announced at the awards ceremony after the preliminary round with the top two bands returning to perform again in an evening concert which determines the state championship. The OHS band qualified as one of the two finalists along with West Lyon, the eventual state champion in Class 2A. This marks the 27th consecutive year the OHS Jazz Band has qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships and the 13th time they have made it to the evening finals. The Pioneers earned three outstanding soloist awards during the preliminary round. The students recognized for this award were senior Gwen Gehrke and junior Connor Cunningham on saxophone and freshman Lydia Downing on drums.
The band will lose three seniors and return fifteen of their eighteen members next year. The band next performs at The Roof Garden on Saturday, May 7th at 6PM and free-will donations are accepted to support the jazz band.
