Pierce Participants Rise Above the Rest at the USD Jazz Festival
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy Keaton Vavra
The Pierce jazz band flocked to the USD (University of South Dakota) jazz festival and placed first in class 1A.
The participants who arrived at the festival included seniors Kaylee Steffen, Aubree Hanson, Hadleigh Collison and Amelia Ahlers; juniors Christian Nordby, Mya Johnson and Josiah Ahlers; and
sophomores Aubrie Zimmerman, Keaton Vavra, Spencer Sindt, Jayna Prochaska, Brayden Lambrecht, Maya Johnson, Addison Frye, Peyton Ebmeier, and Lauren Delka.
“It was a very good time, and I enjoyed listening to all the bands. I thought we performed really well. My favorite songs would have been ‘Don’t Get Sassy’ and ‘Hit The Bricks’ was really fun. I would do it again next year,” Zimmerman, a sophomore saxophone player, said.
The jazz band played “Don’t Get Sassy” composed by Thad Jones and recorded by Mike Carubia, “Come Sunday” by Duke Ellington and arranged by Rick Hinson, and “Hit The Bricks” by Gordon Goodwin.
“It was fun; it was new for me. I would do it next year if they let me. I liked ‘Hit The Bricks’ and if you're going to do band, I suggest you do jazz, it's fun. The day you leave at a good time after lunch and listen to bands for a while, perform, and listen to more bands then get your awards,” J. Ahlers, a junior trumpet player, said.
