Great Bend Middle School Jazz Band attended the 43rd annual Bryce Lutz Jazz Festival at Hutchinson Community College. The festival is open to middle school and high school students from across the state of Kansas and offers workshops, clinics and practice.
Daryl Batchelor, Hutchinson; Todd Strait, Kansas City; and Andy Slater, Wichita, critiqued the group, then Mr. Slater provided a hands-on clinic. He said he was impressed with all the students and noted the excellence of the rhythm section made up of Sidney Cooper, drums; Sienna Cauley, bass; and Amy To, piano.
Lorena Favela, trumpet; Evan Wedel, trumpet; and Christian Mason, trombone, all performed solos while the group performed “Sunday Afternoon” by Mike Steinel and “Bag’s Groove” by Milt Jackson arranged by Paul Murtha. For the second year in a row, Cooper (drums) and Cauley (bass) received Outstanding Musicianship Awards and Lorena Favela (trumpet) received an Outstanding Musicianship Award this year.