High School Jazz Ensembles performs at South Central Iowa Bandmasters Jazz Festival

The Southeast Polk High School Jazz Ensembles performed at South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association’s District Jazz Festival on Saturday, December 9. Waukee High School annually hosts over 30 bands each year from schools in class 1A and 4A, and for second bands.

This year, SEP Jazz Three placed 8th out of 13 bands and received outstanding soloist recognition for Rey Munoz, trombone, Katie Stephens, alto saxophone, and Katelin Reinert, flute.

Jazz Two was awarded 2nd place in the Second Band Category, and the following students were awarded as outstanding soloists: Amy Hubbert, alto saxophone, Morgan Panosh, trumpet, CJ Reece, bari saxophone, Katy Meunier, piano, and Odelle Brown, trombone.

Jazz One placed 4th out of the 15 4A bands in attendance, and Andrew Gjersvik (drums), Nick Shellenberg (bass), and Nick Cheung (piano), were awarded outstanding solo certificates.

The SEP Jazz bands, under the direction of Jayson Gerth perform throughout the year at area festivals and home concerts. Jazz One will perform again at the Simpson College Jazz Festival in late January, and all three bands will perform at the UNI Tallcorn Jazz Festival in mid-February.