Friday, May 15th, 2026
Grand Blanc WEST Middle School - 7:00pm
The Grand Blanc Jazz Program consists of three separate ensembles, which gives more students a chance to experience and perform in a jazz group. Rehearsals begin in December and run through the month of May leading up to Jazz Night. The Jazz Bands rehearse two days a week after school. Participation in the jazz ensembles is voluntary, and students do not earn class credit for their participation. It is very impressive given the number of students who wish to perform in the jazz bands!
Through their participation in the jazz ensembles, students will learn more about what it takes to perform this genre of music. In addition to learning how to perform in this type of ensemble, students also learn the basics of improvisation. Some of the solos you are hearing tonight are not written down; the students are creating new music each time they perform a solo!
What, So?
Dean Sorenson
Nuvola
Peter Blair
Alligator Alley
Dear Sorenson
Fat Cat
Doug Beach
Son of the Chicken
Kris Berg
Hush
Peter Blair
Orange Sherbert
Sammy Nestico
Whirly Bird
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EKG
Peter Blair
EKG
Kid Charlemagne
Steely Dan arr. Mike Tomaro
Blue Moon
arr. Victor Lopez
feat. Lilly Sauvie, vocals
FLAMINGO - World Premeire Performance
Cory Wong arr. Brian DiBlassio
Louis Armstrong introduced listeners around the world to jazz. Highlighting the excitement and appreciation students are developing for jazz, this award is presented to our most outstanding senior jazz performer each year. Armstrong’s influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.
Thousands of high schools have honored their top jazz students with the Louis Armstrong Award. The pinnacle of achievement in a high school jazz band, the Armstrong Award recognizes outstanding dedication and superior musicianship. The award has become a nationwide symbol of excellence in musical achievement.
Alto Saxophone
Jayden McDonald
Hannah Shuck
Tenor Sax
Deanna Johnson
Joseph Nguyen
Bari Sax
Bentley Batchelor
Max Rodriguez
Trumpet
Wyatt Berberich
Levi Cooper
Bodey Howells
Katarina Johnson
Evan McDonald
Trombone
Raya Craton
Jayden Martinez-Sutton
Claire Poehner
Brennan Vanderlaan
Bass
Greg Coleman
Abigail Holmes
Piano
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Drum Set
Owen Fox
Alto Saxophone
Athena Adkisson
Nathan Berberich
Claire Poehner
Tenor Sax
Zuriah McMillan
Lillian Convis
Bass Clarinet
Jay Reitz
Bari Sax
Bentley Batchelor
Landon Gifford
Trumpet
Dominik Amromin
Ava Burton
Katarina Johnson
Chloey Loomer
Evan McDonald
Jackson Motyka
Trombone
James Kiihne
Race Lang
Bass
Casey Lichtenburg
Piano
Bodey Howells
Drum Set
Owen Fox
Alto Sax
Justyn DeBouse
Zuriah McMillan
Tenor Sax
Andrew Guzak
Claire Poehner
Bari Sax
Bentley Batchelor
Trumpet
Ava Burton
Jacob Carrier
Zayn Dabaja
Evan McDonald
Nathan McDonald
Trombone
Greg Coleman
Owen Fox
James Kiihne
Race Lang
Piano
Katarina Johnson
Bass
Sagan Zas
Drum Set
Kevin Hawkins
Vocalist
Lillian Sauvie
Greg Coleman
Zayn Dabaja
James Kiihne III
Nathan McDonald
Lilly Sauvie