On Monday, January 24, thirty students represented Prairie High School in their performances with Jazz I and Jazz II as part of the annual IHSMA State Jazz Band Festival held at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. Each participating ensemble was adjudicated and critiqued by three professional educators, and received a short on-stage clinic as a component of the festival.

Jazz I performed for a divisional rating, and Jazz II performed for “Comments Only.” To determine the rating of each ensemble, the three adjudicators evaluated their performance in the areas of tone quality, intonation, blend & balance, rhythmic feel, interpretation, and rhythm section effectiveness, along with creativity & musicianship of improvised solos. Each group was then rated in accordance with the following Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) standards:

Division I – (Superior) Outstanding in every detail
Division II – (Excellent) Minor performance flaws
Division III – (Good) Good, with basic weaknesses
Division IV – (Fair) Unsatisfactory for our level
Division V – (Poor) Many areas of weaknesses

We are excited to announce that Jazz I was awarded with a Division I “Superior” Rating. This marks the 24th consecutive year that Prairie has been awarded a Superior Rating at the State Jazz Band Festival! Below is a list of students who are members of Prairie’s Jazz I and Jazz II, as well as the literature performed.

You can see them performing next at our Winter Jazz Concert on Tuesday, February 22, along with the Point Middle School and 9th Grade jazz ensembles.

JAZZ I:
Max Quanrud (12) …………………………………………. Alto Sax

Nina Reyes (12) …………………………………………….. Alto Sax

Audrey Sellon (11) ………………………………………. Tenor Sax

Go Benesh (11) ………………………………………….. Tenor Sax

Sydney Nemecek (12) ……………………………………. Bari Sax

Eli Copeland (12) ………………………………………… Trombone

Camden Beightler (11) ………………………………… Trombone

Hazel Alldredge (12) ……………………………………. Trombone

Lydia Welch (12) ……………………………………………. Trumpet

Noah Reu (11) ………………………………………………. Trumpet

Alex Bliss (12) ……………………………………………….. Trumpet

Elizabeth Kacena (12) …………………………………….. Trumpet

Evan Wazac (11) ………………………………………………… Piano

Carlie Mallicoat (12) ……………………………… Guitar/Clarinet

Alyssa Cassady (11) ……………………………………………. Bass

Brett Ehler (12) ……………………………………….. Drums/Vibes

Nam Nguyen (12) ……………………………………. Drums/Vibes

Evan Rossman (12) ………………………………….. Drums/Aux..

“Back to the Basement” ……………… Bret Zvacek

“I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” ……. Ellington

“Street Music” ……………………………… Fred Sturm

JAZZ II:

Riley Kruse (10) ……………………………………………… Alto Sax

Brigid Helgenberger (11) ………………………………… Alto Sax

Paige Rummel (12) ………………………………………… Alto Sax

Sydney Nemecek (12) ………………………………….. Tenor Sax

Sophia Johnson (10) ……………………………………. Tenor Sax

Anna Lantz (12) …………………………………. Bari Sax/Clarinet

Lydia Welch (12) …………………………………………. Trombone

Ashley Zuber (11) ……………………………………….. Trombone

Noelle Buck (11) ……………………………………………. Trumpet

Mackenzie Baustian (10) …………………………………. Trumpet

Hazel Alldredge (12) …………………… Trumpet/Sousaphone

BJ Tandy (10) …………………………………………………… Piano

Jesse Sheehan (12) ……………………………………………. Bass

Daniel Cardenas (12) ………………………………….. Vibes/Aux.

Dexter Quanrud (10) …………………………………………. Drums

“Mudbug Strut” …………………………….. Paul Baker

“The Cardinal Shuffle” ………………… Bob Washut

“Caldonia” …………………………….. arr. Rick Stitzel