The 31st Annual Jazz Festival was held on Saturday, February 17.  16 High School bands joined clinicians for a day of jazz.  We partnered with Jazz at Lincoln Center as a Regional Essentially Ellington Festival.  Bands came from Brookfield, Columbus, Concord IN, Fond du Lac, Grafton, Mt Horeb, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, and West DePere.

Jim Piela - saxophone, Erica von Kleist - saxophone, Dan Wallach - saxophone, Bennett Wood - saxophone, Derrick Gardner - trumpet, Darren Sterud - trombone, Rick Haydon - guitar, Reggie Thomas - piano, Chris Rottmayer - piano, Chris Behrens - piano, Ethan Phillion - bass, and Jim Huwe- drums.

This past Thursday we were so fortunate to have Maxine Gordon visit East and West High Schools.  Gordon is an author, historian, civil rights activist, Harvard Fellow, and wife of late great saxophonist Dexter Gordon.

Combo students were once again able to open for the Darren Sterud Jazz Orchestra.  The DSO has been doing their Nutcracker performances for the past 14 years.  We have been really fortunate to be involved as an opening act the past three years.  This has provided a ton of experience for our students.

This year a smaller venue meant that we sent out a combo instead of the full band.  The engagement however was for two nights affording multiple horn lines the opportunity to do some small group work.

Our Jazz Ensemble I rhythm section served as a demonstration group at the WMEA Conference this past week.  Presenter Jerry Tolson did a session on Rhythm Section techniques and had our students demonstrate for educators in attendance.

Students also worked with Jerry in a masterclass at school both to prepare for the session and to develop some of their own skills as individual players and as a group!

We are fortunate to welcome  Ron Carter back to Sun Prairie to work with students.  Professor Carter got everyone singing and dancing and dealt with our foundation of swing.