Aurelia Jazz Band wins 1A competition

Getting tips - Aurelia High School Jazz Band members are shown here getting tips from members of the Jim Oatts Trio at the recent Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival. Photo by Mike Leckband [Click to enlarge]

SIOUX CITY - The Aurelia Jazz Band, which won first place honors at the 2007 Iowa Jazz Championships and were runner-up in 2008, had an "off year" last year as the group was in transition, following the departure of their director, Jason Heeren, to the Storm Lake High School Band Director post.

Director Ryan Meyer is a Cherokee native. Photo by Dan Whitney [Click to enlarge]

This year, though, under the direction of Ryan Meyer, an enthusiastic hard-working group of sudents are again making music - and making waves.

On January 16, the AHS Jazz Band received straight Division I ratings at the IHSMA State Jazz Band Contest, and the band's First-Place finish at the NWIBA District Jazz Festival here last week earned them an automatic spot at the 2010 Iowa Jazz Championships, which will be held on Tuesday April 13 in Des Moines.

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Jazz Band placed third in Class 1A, and Galva-Holstein was fifth.

Audrey Winterhof, Stacie Glienke, and Ashley Anderson all received Outstanding Solo Awards for Aurelia at the District Festival.

Sax Trio - left to right - Ashley Anderson, Audrey Winterhof and Lexi Tuttle perform as a saxophone trio small group ensemble. Photo by Dan Whitney [Click to enlarge]

The High School and Middle School Band students have a busy spring schedule ahead of them including a pops concert and a spring concert at the school, solo and large group contests, more Jazz Festivals, and, on February 27, the Buena Vista Middle School and High School Honor Band concerts at Buena Vista University. Kerstin and Lexi Tuttle have been chosen to play in the High School honor band and Brielle Kolpin, Kirk Carlson, Michael and Matthew Swanson and Jonah Seng will play in the Middle School honor band.

I Got Rhythm - This percussion ensemble from Aurelia High School had the crowd rockin' at a recent basketball halftime performance. Photo by Dan Whitney