OHS starts the new year off swingin’!

Our jazz program just completed a crazy week. First off, the OHS Jazz Ensemble 1 opened up for the Vern Spevak Big Band last Sunday. The kids did great, and it was wonderful to hear some of the best players in Chicagoland performing in their element. Trumpeter Dave Katz, who works with our trumpeters from time to time, was a special guest soloist.

Then on Friday, Beloit Memorial High School, one of the premier jazz programs in the country, came to our school for a concert exchange. Just a bunch of kids playing music for each other...what a great day!

Our top jazz band was dealt a cruel blow when the Purdue Jazz Festival was cancelled because of the weather. However, they were able to join our Orange and Blue Jazz Ensembles at the NorthShore JazzFest. For the second straight year, all of our groups achieved straight Division I ratings, including our top combo, who was competing for the first time. For the third straight year, one of our groups placed in the top three, with our Orange Jazz 2 third place in the second jazz band division. (at the writing of this post, we didn’t know the other rankings) Ryan Kazda was outstanding pianist in his room. All bands received clinics after their performances, and it was a good day by all!

and lastly, on Martin Luther King Junior‘s birthday, the top jazz band came in on their day off, and had a professional recording technician come in to record them. A special thanks to Brian O’Callaghan for lending his expertise.