The Armstrong School District (ASD) Jazz Ensemble Program held its very first winter concert in late January at AHS. Mr. Lou Ribar, Lenape Elementary Bands Director and Armstrong River Hawks Marching Band Brass Instructor, directed the ensembles. 

Elementary, middle, and high school-age students formed the Lenape Elementary Jazz, Armstrong Junior Jazz, and River Hawks Jazz ensembles. 

West Hills Intermediate has its own jazz group, led by Director Mr. Robert Cieslinski. This year is the first year that ASD has recognized an official jazz program, according to Mr. Ribar. 

Despite the success of the first concert, Mr. Ribar encourages more musicians — especially brass players — to join the group. For most of the students, playing jazz was a completely new experience. One pianist, sophomore Reagan Meyer, learned the music in two weeks. 

Seniors Hailey Sellers and Xoie Shoup are the first students in Armstrong history to attend the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Jazz Festival. They play tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone, respectively. 

The River Hawk Jazz Ensemble played “Green Onions” by Booker T. & the M.G.’s, “Linus and Lucy” by Vine Guaraldi, “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham, “A String of Pearls” by Jerry Gray, and “Birdland” by Josef Zawinul. 

Because many in the area may not be familiar with jazz, Mr. Ribar took the time to explain several of the key features. Songs, for example, are called “charts” in the jazz genre. Only music with vocal elements is considered a song.

It is also customary to clap after solos, which were featured throughout the lineup. “Scaled Blues,” a song performed by the Lenape Elementary Jazz Ensemble, featured six solos alone. 

The ASD Jazz Ensembles will be hosting a second concert on May 16 featuring “even cooler, hipper, more enjoyable charts.”