NORFOLK, Neb. – Spring was in the air, filled with song, sequins and jazz as middle and high school student musicians returned to Northeast Community College to compete for top honors at the institution’s 43rd annual Jazz Festival in the Cox Activities Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk.
“The weather conditions were perfect for schools traveling to compete this year, the excitement for those who brought the sunshine in, was palatable during the festival. It is always a bright spot of hearing and making music, music, music.,” said Margaret Schultz, Northeast director of choral activities and festival director. “Having students from across the Midwest here on campus for the festival, was truly a delight.”
The two-day event, sponsored by the Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble and Northeast Music Department, drew 50 musical groups featuring 1,300 students plus directors from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.
The competition hosted jazz bands and show/jazz choirs for schools in four levels. Trophies were presented over the two days for first, second, third, and fourth place and solo and instrumental awards. In addition, tuition waiver scholarships were awarded to some Senior student participants.
Schultz said the Jazz Festival helps students develop as musicians and shows them what other schools are doing. It also presents an opportunity to current collegiate students to be a part of how the festival works. She said the most rewarding part is the award ceremonies as recognition is given to the top four groups and an outstanding soloist in each category.
“The hushed anticipation and then the cheers and applause for each group announced never gets old,” Schultz said. “The quality adjudication comments provide musicianship growth to both students and directors. All in all, the festival ran very smoothly due to the support of Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble, the College and the Northeast students who help work the festival. The festival was free and open to the public. Those in attendance expressed their pleasure to hear these young musicians, some saying they could have stayed all day each day. Enjoyment was definitely the bright spot.”
Results from the Jazz Festival include:
Day One Trophy Placements:
Level IV
| Band: 1st Norfolk Jr. High #1 2nd Dakota Valley, North Sioux City, SD 3rd Norfolk Jr. High #2 Outstanding Soloist: Amy Solorio, Trombone, Norfolk Jr. High #2 | Show Choir: 1st Norfolk Junior High 2nd Norfolk Catholic Junior High 3rd Elkhorn Valley, Jr. High, Tilden Outstanding Soloist: Blake Faust, Norfolk Jr. High |
Level III
| Band: 1st Stanton Community 2nd Osmond Community 3rd Laurel Concord Coleridge 4th Pender Public Outstanding Soloist: Easton Dutcher, Guitar, Pender
| Jazz Choir: 1st Stanton Community 2nd Bloomfield Community 3rd Miller School District, Miller, SD 4th Ord Public School Outstanding Soloist: Carret Severance, Ord Public School | Show Choir: 1st Fullerton Public School 2nd Centennial Public 3rd Bloomfield Community 4th Elkhorn Valley Outstanding Soloist: Ethan Arens, Norfolk Catholic |
Day Two Trophy Placements
Level II
| Band 1st Aurora Public Schools 2nd Dakota Valley School District, North Sioux City 3rd Vermillion School District, Vermillion, SD 4th Elk Point Jefferson School District, Elk Point, SD Outstanding Soloist: Eli Honner, Piano, Dakota Valley School | Jazz Choir 1st Boyden-Hull School, Hull, IA Outstanding Soloist: Matteo Cercone |
Level I
| Band 1st Papillion La Vista South #1 2nd Norfolk High # 1 3rd Grand Island Public 4th Millard South High School Outstanding Soloist: Talon Biberos, Tenor Sax, Grand Island | Show Choir 1st Norfolk Public High Outstanding Soloist: Caroline Lane |
Northeast Jazz Festival Superior (I) Bands
Level IV: Dakota Valley School District, North Sioux City, IA; Norfolk Jr. High #1
Level III: Stanton Community; Bloomfield Community; Osmond Community; Pender Public
Level II: Dakota Valley School, North Sioux City, SD; Aurora High School, Aurora
Level I: Grand Island Public; Norfolk Public # 1; Papillion LaVista South # 2; Millard South High School; Papillion LaVista South #1
Northeast Jazz Festival Superior (I) Show Choirs
Level IV: Norfolk Jr. High; Elkhorn Valley Jr. High, Tilden; Norfolk Catholic Jr. High
Level III: Aquinas Catholic High, David City; Centennial High School, Utica; Fullerton High, Fullerton; Elkhorn Valley High, Tilden
Level I: Norfolk Pubic
Northeast Jazz Festival Superior (I) Jazz Choirs
Level III: Bloomfield Community; Stanton Community
Level II: Boyden Hull Schools, Hull, IA
Northeast Jazz Festival Excellent (II) Bands
Level IV: Norfolk Jr. High #2
Level III: Hartington-Newcastle; Ponca Public; Norfolk Catholic; Cedar Catholic; Laurel Concord Coleridge; Centennial High; Miller High School, Miller, SD; Elkhorn Valley, Tilden
Level II: Vermillion High School, Vermillion, SD; Elk Point-Jefferson High School, Elk Point, SD
Level I: Fremont High School; Skutt Catholic High School; Norfolk High # 2; South Sioux City High School
Northeast Jazz Festival Excellent (II) Show Choirs
Level IV:
Level III: Norfolk Catholic; Cedar Catholic; Bishop Neumann High School
Northeast Jazz Festival Excellent (II) Jazz Choirs
Level III: Miller High School, Miller, SD; Ord High School
Northeast Jazz Festival Good (III) Jazz Choirs
Level III: Bishop Garrigan, Algona, IA
Northeast Jazz Festival Fair (IV) Jazz Choirs
Level III: Ponca Public
VOCAL SOLO AWARDS
Norfolk Jr. High—Blake Faust, Zane Halsey
Norfolk Catholic Jr. High—Dominic Kastl
Norfolk Catholic High—Easton Arens
Bishop Neumann—Andrew Hiemstra, Trinity Youngblood
Aquinas Catholic, David City—Lizzie Roh
Bishop Garrigan, Algona, IA—Amaury Thomas, Tate Foertsh
Ord High School—Skylar Kokes, Garret Severance
Boyden Hull, Hull, IA—Matteo Cercone, Aubree Boender
Bloomfield community—Evan Hollander, Tirence Freeman, Michael Dodge
Stanton Community—Chelsea Kment, Mia Sherman, Aaxel Spence
Centennial High School, Utica—Luke Hoffschneider, Naomi Wilson
Norfolk Public High—Caroline Lane, Nora Springer, McKenzie Peterson
INSTRUMENTAL SOLO AWARDS
Dakota Valley School District, North Sioux City, SD—Kenzie Jenks, Bari Sax; Owen Norby, Tenor Sax; Eli Honner, Piano; Joey Furlong, Guitar
Norfolk Jr. High and Sr. High School—Amy Solorio, Trombone; Greyson Wieseman, Drums; Keegan Barr, Alto Sax; Blake Faust, Alto Sax; Zane Halsey Piano; Iris Curry, Bass; Parker Rabbass, Flugelhorn; Madux Cleveland, Drums
Hartington-Newcastle—Alyk Zach, trumpet; Ryell Haug, trumpet; Trinity Zach, trumpet
Ponca Public—Bradley Lentz, Trumpet; Mia Krusemark, Trumpet
Cedar Catholic—Sawyer Nieman, Bass
Laurel Concord Coleridge—Kolten Settje, Tenor Sax
Osmond Community—Jack Berg, Trombone
Pender Public—Easton Dutcher, Guitar, Cooper Randall, Alto Sax
Vermillion High, Vermillion, SD—Max Knutson, Alto Sax; Katelyn Oyen, Vibes
Aurora High School—Christian Alvarez, Bari Sax; Lucy Gustafson, Piano
Skutt Catholic—Ella Goetz, Trumpet
Fremont High School--Devan Melton, Trumpet
Grand Island Public School-Talon Biberos, Tenor Sax
Papillion LaVista South High School—Andrew Wilson, Alto Sax; Johnny Temple, Alto Sax; Cooper Greer, Clarinet; Micah Terrell, Flugelhorn
Millard South High School—Jack Adair, Bari Sax; Braelyn Bouton, Trombone
$1,000 TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Boyden Hull Schools, Hull, IA—Zach Gaul
Elkhorn Valley High School, Tilden—Kellyn Ollendick
Grand Island Pubic High School, Grand Island—Talon Biberos
Norfolk Catholic High School—Alexander Rios
Ponca Public School, Ponca—Connor Schamp
Show Choir
The Norfolk Catholic Show Choir was among the performers during the opening day of the two-day Jazz Festival at Northeast Community College. (Northeast Community College)
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