24th Purdue Jazz Festival

The Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Chamber Ensemble from South High School in Downers Grove performed and competed at the 2014 Purdue Jazz Festival.  Jazz Ensemble I earned a Division I rating, Jazz Ensemble II earned a Division II rating.  Numerous student musicians from both ensembles were cited by the adjudication panels for their Outstanding Musicianship.

From Jazz Lab Band:  Nikil Chari, drums;  Amanda Field, alto saxophone;  Tyler Jankowski, drums; Noelle Kohnke, drums;  Joe Kreidl, baritone saxophone;  Matt Laczynski, trombone; Jonathan Nelson, bass;  Eric Petro, guitar;  Kat Woltman, bass;  Susan Zhou, piano, and Adam Zlotnicki, trumpet.

From Jazz Ensemble:  Nathan Gresik, trumpet;  Jack Herstowski, guitar;  Brianna Imgruet, trumpet; Cassie Plata, tenor saxophone;  John Shimanek, trumpet and James Weiss, tenor saxophone.

Outstanding Musicianship citations for the Jazz Chamber Ensemble will be announced in the coming week.

In addition to a rating, each ensemble received adjudicator feedback on their performance.  Students also attended a concert, clinics and master classes with the Grammy nominated band Snarky Puppy.  "This is the finest high school jazz festival in the midwest." said director Glenn Williams.  "We are thrilled to participate in this event each year."  For more about jazz at South High School, contact Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.