The Chesterton High School Jazz Ensemble performed this past weekend at the Indiana State School Music Association’s (ISSMA) annual Jazz Festival held at Portage High School. The CHS Ensemble performed in what is known as the Group I Division. This is a class of competition dedicated to the more highly developed high school ensembles that are capable of performing advanced high school and/or college and professional level literature. The group was adjudicated by three experienced jazz educators in all areas of Big Band jazz performance, including solo improvisation. The judging panel awarded the Chesterton High School Band a Superior ‘Gold’ Division rating for their efforts. The group’s exceptional point total qualified our students for the coveted “With Distinction Award” for their high quality performance.
The group performed three selections at the festival, including an up-tempo “swing” piece composed and arranged by Lennie Niehaus, entitled “Orange Coast”. The group’s second music selection was a soulful and powerful ballad by Benny Golson written as a tribute to trumpeter Clifford Brown entitled, “I Remember Clifford.” This piece featured senior trumpeter Jacob Winland on trumpet and flugel horn. The band closed their festival performance with a high energy Latin style chart called “Night Walk.” This work featured two student soloists, trombonist Andrew Figg, and tenor saxophonist Mark Hodgkiss.
The members of the CHS Jazz Ensemble include: Saxophonists Aaron Brookhouse, David Gerth, David Hodgkiss, Mark Hodgkiss, Sydney Sarver and Emmerson Stobbe; trumpeters Keyon Allen, Ryan Herr, Zane Mauke, Rebecca White and Jacob Winland; trombonists Adam Davis, Andrew Figg, Zach Lane, John Petro, and Anthony Suleski. Members of the Rhythm Section include bass player Henry Hoham, pianists Benjamin Hoham and Violet Needham, guitarist Peter Girzadas, and drummers Collin Campbell and Andrew Engel. The director of the CHS Jazz Ensemble is Michael Scheiber.
The next performance for the group will be at the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival on Monday, April 2. The group will also perform briefly as part of the 7thAnnual Duneland Education Foundation “Gala” event on Friday, April 20. The band will complete their scheduled performance season and celebrate 45 years of jazz education in the Duneland Schools when they perform at their own spring concert entitled, “All That Jazz” Opus XLV. At this event, members of the CHS Jazz Ensemble will have the opportunity to work with and perform with several world-class professional musicians. This concert is slated for Saturday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chesterton High School Auditorium. For more information on these events, contact the CHS Music Department 983-3730.