E.B.H.S. JAZZ BAND PLACES 4TH AT CHAMPIONSHIPS
On Tuesday April 5th, the
E.B.H.S. Jazz Band I placed 4th in class 2A competition at the Iowa Jazz
Championships in Des Moines. This is the nineteenth year in
a row that the E.B.H.S. Jazz Band has qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships
and the third year in a row that the band has placed 4th. A top five
placement is excellent considering there are 102 class 2A schools.
Bands that place in the top 5 are assured of an afternoon performance time
at the next years’ Jazz Championships.
Four students were
honored by the judges with Outstanding Soloist Awards: Lucas Veldhuizen;
drums, Jodie Ashlock; bass, Stacy Bueltel; vibes and Harrison Harnisch;
guitar.
The statewide competition
is one of the nation's premiere high school jazz events. Seventy-five
of Iowa's top high school jazz bands in five classes compete for state
championships. Top adjudicators from colleges around the Midwest
listen to each of the bands and select two from each class to perform in
the evening playoffs. Bands qualify for championships by placing
1st or 2nd at their district jazz festivals or by winning at an independent
jazz festival and placing ahead of an automatic qualifier.
The Eddyville-Blakesburg
Jazz Band earned a division I rating at State Jazz Contest in Newton, placed
1st at the Indian Hills Jazz Contest and 1st at the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters
District Jazz Contest at Iowa City West. Every one of the bands’
soloists has earned a soloist award at one or more contests. Lucas
Veldhuizen was chosen as the Outstanding Soloist of the Day at the District
Contest and Kala Barre was the Outstanding Soloist at Indian Hills.
The other soloists for this year’s band were: Rachel Powers, Matthew Streeter,
Michael Shay, Emily Donohue, and Benjamin Fenton.
There are 22 members
in the Eddyville / Blakesburg Jazz Band this year including saxophones:
Emily Donohue, Parker Arnold, Amy Lasley, Angie Louwsma, and Adam Bahr.
Megan Hawk; Flute. Trumpets: Matthew Streeter, Benjamin Fenton. Sara Lane,
Matthew Sullivan, and Brock Peters. Trombones: Kala Barre, Kirsten Brown,
Guy Lasley, and Michael Shay. Rhythm Section Members: Jodie Ashlock; bass,
Rachel Powers; piano, Lucas Veldhuizen; drums, Stacy Bueltel; vibes, Harrison
Harnisch; guitar, Marlena Terrell and Kari Barre; auxiliary percussion.
The band is directed by Joe Overton. Overton had these comments:
“I would like to thank all of the friends and supporters that came to Des
Moines to show your support for the band. This has been a great season
for the E.B.H.S. Jazz Band. We have a lot of new people this year
and everyone has done an excellent job. They have proven themselves
to be one of the top bands in the state!”
E.B.H.S. JAZZ BAND WINS DISTRICTS
On Saturday,
March 5th, the Eddyville / Blakesburg High School Jazz Band placed
1st in class 2A at the South East Iowa Bandmasters Association District
Jazz Contest in Iowa City. The 1st and 2nd place bands from each
class qualify for the Iowa Jazz Championships, which will be held in Des
Moines on April 5th. This is the 19th year in a row that the E.B.H.S.
Jazz Band has qualified for the Jazz Championships. Eddyville / Blakesburg
placed 1st ahead of Solon, Mid-Prairie, West Branch, Sigourney, West Burlington,
West Liberty, and Bloomfield in class 2A competition. The band
also earned the highest score of any band at the competition in all classes.
Ten students
were selected by the judges to receive Outstanding Soloist Awards for their
solo performances. Outstanding Soloist Awards went to: Matthew Streeter;
trumpet, Michael Shay; trombone, Harrison Harnisch; guitar, Stacy Bueltel;
vibes, Rachel Powers; piano, Kala Barre; trombone, Emily Donohue; alto
sax, Jodie Ashlock; bass guitar, Benjamin Fenton; trumpet, and Lucas Veldhuizen;
drums. The band is directed by Joe Overton.
Lucas Veldhuizen,
the band’s drummer received a special honor at the District Jazz Contest,
being selected as the Outstanding Soloist of the Day out of all of the
soloists that performed in class 2A. Lucas is a junior and has received
a soloist award at every contest so far this year. The E.B.H.S. Trumpet
section also won Outstanding Trumpet Section Award for their performance.
Members of the trumpet section are Matthew Streeter, Benjamin Fenton, Sara
Lane, Matthew Sullivan, and Brock Peters.
E.B.H.S. Jazz
Band Wins at Indian Hills
On Saturday, February 26th,
the Eddyville / Blakesburg Jazz Band placed 1st in class 2A at the Indian
Hills Jazz Festival in Ottumwa. E.B.H.S. Jazz I outscored the bands
from Roland Story, Albia, West Burlington, and Albia. Roland Story
has been ranked as the 3rd best band in the state so far in the jazz season.
E/B’s 1st place finish over Roland Story give Eddyville / Blakesburg a
chance at a wild card invitation to the Iowa Jazz Championships.
Kala Barre was selected as the Outstanding Soloist of the day in class
2A and received a special award for her solo performance. Several
other members of the band earned Outstanding Soloist Awards for their solo
performances: Lucas Veldhuizen; drums, Rachel Powers; piano, Michael Shay;
trombone, Harrison Harnisch; guitar, Stacy Bueltel; vibes, Emily Donohue;
alto sax, Jodie Ashlock; bass, and Benjamin Fenton; trumpet. The
bands next competition will be this Saturday at the District Jazz Contest
at Iowa City West High School. Bands that place 1st or 2nd at the
district contest will automatically qualify to compete at the Iowa Jazz
Championships in Des Moines on April 5th. The band will perform
in concert with the junior high jazz band on Thursday March 17th.
The concert is free and everyone is encouraged to attend.
EBHS Jazz Band Earns Division I
On Saturday, January
29th, the Eddyville / Blakesburg High School Jazz Band earned a division
I rating at the State Jazz Band Contest in Newton. The band has earned
a division I rating seven of the last nine years. E.B.H.S. Jazz I
is directed by Joe Overton and has 22 members this year.
The next competition for the
band will be at the UNI Tallcorn Jazz Festival on Saturday, February 19th.
The band performs at 11:00 in class 2A competition. On Saturday,
February 26th, the band will compete at the Indian Hills Jazz Festival
in Ottumwa. Friends and supporters of the band are encouraged to
attend.
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