NORFOLK, NE – Middle and high school student musicians competed for top honors at the 36th Annual Northeast Community College Jazz Festival in the Cox Activities Center on the Northeast campus recently in Norfolk. The two-day event drew 83 musical groups from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota with over 2,000 students performing.
The competition hosted jazz bands and show/jazz choirs for schools in four levels. Twenty trophies were presented at the end of each competition day for first, second, third, and fourth place and solo and instrumental awards.
Margaret Schultz, music instructor and accompanist at Northeast, said the Jazz Festival helps students develop as musicians and shows them what other schools are doing.
“It gives them a valuable educational opportunity to perform in front of other students and they look forward to competing again the next year. Pride is visible in these students when they perform. Our Northeast students help work the festival and the Jazz Festival participants find out that they don’t have to be a music major at Northeast to participate in all the musical groups we have here on campus.”
The event is sponsored by the Northeast Community College music department and the Norfolk Area Jazz Ensemble (NAJE). NAJE uses the proceeds to support student musicians with scholarships and to promote music activities at the college.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Complete results follow. All schools are from Nebraska unless otherwise noted.
LEVEL IV (JUNIOR HIGH) TROPHY WINNERS - SHOW CHOIR
FIRST PLACE: Westridge Middle School, Grand Island
SECOND PLACE: Norfolk Junior High, Norfolk
THIRD PLACE: Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
FOURTH PLACE: Pierce Junior High, Pierce
LEVEL IV (JUNIOR HIGH) OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY:
Nolan Marlatt, Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
LEVEL IV (JUNIOR HIGH) TROPHY WINNERS - JAZZ BAND
FIRST PLACE: Lakewood Middle School #1, Salina, KS
SECOND PLACE: Norfolk Junior High #1, Norfolk
THIRD PLACE: Lakewood Middle School #2, Salina, KS
FOURTH PLACE: Kirn Middle School, Council Bluff, IA
OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST TROPHY:
Jack Cain, Trumpet, Lakewood Middle #2, Salina, KS
LEVEL III (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - SHOW CHOIR
FIRST PLACE: Ord High School, Ord
SECOND PLACE: Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
THIRD PLACE: Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
FOURTH PLACE: Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
LEVEL III (HIGH SCHOOL) OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Nia McClure, Ord High School, Ord
LEVEL III (HIGH SCHOOL) TROHPY WINNERS - VOCAL JAZZ
FIRST PLACE: Miller High School, Miller, SD
SECOND PLACE: Stanton High School, Stanton
OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Abby Turner, Miller High School, Miller, SD
LEVEL III (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - JAZZ BAND
FIRST PLACE: Miller High School, Miller, SD
SECOND PLACE: Randolph Public School, Randolph
THIRD PLACE: Pender Public School, Pender
FOURTH PLACE: Homer High School, Homer
LEVEL III (HIGH SCHOOL) OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Sadie Uhing, Flugelhorn, Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
LEVEL II (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - SHOW CHOIR
FIRST PLACE: Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
SECOND PLACE: Boyden-Hull High School, Hull, IA
LEVEL II (HIGH SCHOOL) OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Ethan Wiggs, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
LEVEL II TROHPY WINNERS - VOCAL JAZZ
FIRST PLACE: Fairbury High School, Fairbury
LEVEL II (HIGH SCHOOL) OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Jayson Klaumann, Fairbury High School, Fairbury
LEVEL II (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - JAZZ BAND
FIRST PLACE: Waverly School District, Waverly
SECOND PLACE: Pierce High School, Pierce
THIRD PLACE: Aurora #1 High School, Aurora
FOURTH PLACE: Dakota Valley High School, North Sioux City, SD
LEVEL II (HIGH SCHOOL) OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Filo Habib, Alto Sax, Waverly School District, Waverly, NE
LEVEL I (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - SHOW CHOIR
FIRST PLACE: Norfolk Senior High School #1, Norfolk
SECOND PLACE: Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
THIRD PLACE: Omaha Northwest High School, Omaha
FOURTH PLACE: Norfolk Senior High School #2, Norfolk
OUTSTANDING VOCAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Raylynn Nelson, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
LEVEL I (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - VOCAL JAZZ
FIRST PLACE: Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
SECOND PLACE: Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA
THIRD PLACE: Lincoln North Star High School, Lincoln
OUTSTANDING VOCAL JAZZ SOLOIST TROPHY
Ashlynn Wiley, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
LEVEL I (HIGH SCHOOL) TROPHY WINNERS - JAZZ BAND
FIRST PLACE: Papillion LaVista South High School, Papillion
SECOND PLACE: Elkhorn South High School #1, Omaha
THIRD PLACE: Lincoln High School #1, Sioux Falls, SD
FOURTH PLACE: Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln
OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST TROPHY
Cole Polensky, Tenor Sax, Papillion LaVista South High School, Papillion
THE FOLLOWING JAZZ BANDS RECEIVED “SUPERIOR” (I) RATINGS:
Norfolk Junior High #1, Norfolk
Lakewood Middle School #1, Salina, KS
Pender Public School, Pender
Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
Miller High School, Miller, SD
Homer Community School, Homer
Randolph Public School, Randolph
Pierce High School, Pierce
Vermillion High School, Vermillion, SD
Aurora #1 High School, Aurora
Waverly School District, Waverly
Dakota Valley School District, North Sioux City, SD
Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Blair #1 High School, Blair
Elkhorn South High School #1, Omaha
Lincoln East #1 High School, Lincoln
Millard South #1 High School, Millard
Lincoln Southwest High School, Lincoln
Papillion LaVista South High School, Papillion
Lincoln Northeast #1 High School, Lincoln
Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Lincoln High School #1, Sioux Falls, SD
Lincoln High School, #2 Sioux Falls, SD
THE FOLLOWING JAZZ BANDS RECEIVED “EXCELLENT” (II) RATINGS:
Norfolk Junior High School #2, Norfolk
Lakewood Middle School #2, Salina, KS
Kirn Middle School #2, Council Bluffs, IA
Kirn Middle School #1, Council Bluffs, IA
Wilber-Clatonia High School, Wilber
Syracuse High School, Syracuse
Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Oakland Craig High School, Oakland
Centennial High School, Utica
Stanton Community School, Stanton
Ponca Public School, Ponca
Winside High School, Winside
Elkhorn Valley High School, Tilden
Osmond High School, Osmond
Laurel-Concord/Coleridge High School, Laurel
Wayne High School, Wayne
Aurora High School #2, Aurora
Nebraska City High School, Nebraska City,
Norfolk High School #2, Norfolk
Blair High School #2, Blair
Elkhorn South High School #2, Omaha
Lincoln East High School #3, Lincoln
Lincoln East High School #2, Lincoln
Lincoln North Star High School, Lincoln
Lincoln Northeast High School #2, Lincoln
THE FOLLOWING JAZZ BANDS RECEIVED “GOOD” (III) RATINGS:
Millard South High School #2, Millard
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS RECEIVED SOLO CERTIFICATES FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE:
Jack Cain, Trumpet, Lakewood Middle School #2, Salina, KS
Olivia Damaree, Alto Sax, Lakewood Middle School #1, Salina, KS
Jocelyn Miller, Trombone, Kirn Middle School #2, Council Bluffs, IA
Haley Schmidt, Tenor Sax, Pender Public School, Pender,
Bryanna Woodward, Alto Sax, Homer Community School, Homer
Lily Umberger, Trombone, Randoph Public School, Randolph
Dalton Rath, Piano, Randolph High School, Randolph
Sadie Uhing, Flugelhorn, Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
Alex Kestling, Alto Sax, Pierce High School, Pierce
Camden Williams, Piano, Aurora High School, Aurora
Filo Habib, Alto Sax, Waverly School District, Waverly
Ben Gerdes, Tenor Sax, Waverly School District, Waverly
Jaydn Cottau, Clarinet, Aurora High School, Aurora
John Helzer, Trombone, Aurora High School, Aurora
Ethan Carlson, Flugelhorn, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Cory Bugiel, Bari Sax, Blair High School #1, Blair
Tyler Bugiel, Trombone, Blair High School #1, Blair
Meg Lashier, Tenor Sax, Blair High School #1, Blair
Josh Williams, Tenor Sax, Lincoln East High School #3, Lincoln
Lily Harms, Piano, Lincoln East High School #3, Lincoln
Jackson Wohlenhaus, Tenor Sax, Elkhorn South #1, Omaha
Henry Tomsu, Bass, Elkhorn South #1, Omaha
Marvin Larweh, Trombone, Elkhorn South #1, Omaha
Sean Lebita, Piano, Lincoln North Star High School, Lincoln
Richard Batelnan, Sop Sax, Lincoln East High School #1, Lincoln
Roman Constantine, Guitar, Millard South High School #1, Millard
Calvin Pilkington, Trumpet, Lincoln Southwest High School, Lincoln
Ian Mattas, Trombone, Lincoln Southwest High School, Lincoln
Evalyn Mullen, Alto Sax, Lincoln High School #2, Sioux Falls, SD
Courtney Kelly, Trombone, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Ben Raether, Trumpet, Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Alyson Johnson, Trombone, Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Xander Donahue, Trumpet, Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Analise Levesque, Piano, Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Cole Kempke, Guitar, Lincoln Northeast High School #1, Lincoln
Cole Polensky, Tenor Sax, Papillion LaVista South High School, Papillion
Spencer Banister, Trombone, Papillion LaVista South High School, Papillion
THE FOLLOWING SHOW CHOIRS RECEIVED “SUPERIOR” (I) RATINGS:
Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
Norfolk Junior High School, Norfolk
Westridge Middle School, Grand Island
Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Centennial High School, Utica
Ord High School, Ord
Boyden Hull High School, Hull, IA
Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Omaha Northwest High School, Omaha
Norfolk High School #2, Norfolk
Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
THE FOLLOWING SHOW CHOIRS RECEIVED “EXCELLENT” (II) RATINGS:
Pierce Junior High, Pierce
Elkhorn Valley High School, Tilden
Ponca Public School, Ponca
Laurel-Concord Coleridge High School, Laurel
Omaha Bryan Senior High School, Omaha
THE FOLLOWING SHOW CHOIRS RECEIVED “GOOD” (III) RATINGS:
Woodbury Central Junior High School, Moville, IA
THE FOLLOWING VOCAL JAZZ CHOIRS RECEIVED “SUPERIOR” (I) RATINGS:
Stanton High School, Stanton
Miller High School, Miller, SD
Fairbury High School, Fairbury
Lincoln North Star High School, Lincoln
Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
THE FOLLOWING VOCAL SOLOISTS RECEIVED SOLO CERTIFICATES FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE:
Lillian Bernhardt, Stanton Community School Vocal Jazz, Stanton
Josie Stevens, Miller High School Vocal Jazz, Miller, SD
Abby Turner, Miller High School Vocal Jazz, Miller, SD
Jayson Klaumann, Fairbury High School Vocal Jazz, Fairbury
Dakota Gladson, Fairbury High School Vocal Jazz, Fairbury
Grant Snyder, Fairbury High School Vocal Jazz, Fairbury
Taylor Shellhase, Fairbury High School Vocal Jazz, Fairbury
Marah Shumard, Fairbury High School Vocal Jazz, Fairbury
Emily Finnegin, Lewis Central High School Vocal Jazz, Council Bluffs, IA
Emma Heyen, Lewis Central High School Vocal Jazz, Council Bluffs, IA
RayLynn Nelson, Thomas Jefferson High School Vocal Jazz, Council Blufffs, IA
Timmy Ginn, Thomas Jefferson High School Vocal Jazz, Council Bluffs, IA
Ashlynn Wiley, Thomas Jefferson High School Vocal Jazz, Council Bluffs, IA
Cassy Higgins, Thomas Jefferson High School Vocal Jazz, Council Bluffs, IA
Ella Fry, Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
Cole Masehman, Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
Nolan Marlatt, Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice
Abby Flewelling, Woodbury Central Middle School, Moville, IA
Gene Hauett, Woodbury Central Middle School, Moville, IA
Emma Fonta, Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Jamie Keller, Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Maddie Maguire, Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Hayden Wolf, Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Elliot Eisenmeger, Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
Grace Wiezoreck, Centennial High School, Utica
Emily Farley, Centennial High School, Utica
Cole Goeke, Centennial High School, Utica
Sam Dunbar, Centennial High School, Utica
Olivia Hrouda, Ponca Public Schools, Ponca
Carin Mellick, Ponca Public Schools, Ponca
Rebecca Fischer, Ord High School, Ord
Kyler Peetz, Ord High School, Ord
Nia McClure, Ord High School, Ord
Sam Burkhart, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Brennon Eby, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Sam Miller, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Madi Suing, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Travis Schrunk , Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Ethan Wiggs, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Jaley Choquette, Westwood High School, Sloan, IA
Caitlin Wilkers, Boyden Hull High School, Hull, IA
Gavin Gonzalez, Omaha Bryan High School, Omaha
Adam Strasser , Omaha Northwest, Omaha
Noah Miller, Omaha Northwest, Omaha
Stirling Frederick, Omaha Northwest, Omaha
Corgan Rodriguez, Omaha Northwest, Omaha
Brian Anderson, Omaha Northwest, Omaha
Georgia Korth, Norfolk High School #2, Norfolk
Aimee Wiebelhouse, Norfolk High School #2, Norfolk
Sierra Schroeder, Norfolk High School #2, Norfolk
Raylynn Nelson, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Ashlynn Wiley, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Angela Larson, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Josey Stammer, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Oleksiy Lakei, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Timmy Ginn, Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, IA
Andres Hughes, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Katie Rusk, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Grant DeFor, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Dani Bennett, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
Marissa Carr, Norfolk High School #1, Norfolk
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Members of the Elkhorn Valley High School Jazz Band perform during the 36th Annual Northeast Community College Jazz Festival in Norfolk. The two-day event drew 83 musical groups from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota with over 2,000 students performing. The competition hosted jazz bands and show/jazz choirs for schools in four levels.