First Annual Minnesota Mid-Level

iaje

Third Annual Minnesota Mid-Level Honors Jazz Ensemble

The 2008 IAJE Minnesota Mid-Level Honors Jazz Ensemble performed on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival at 2 p.m. The performance featured middle school musicians from across the state of Minnesota. These students auditioned for the band this past spring and were chosen to be part of this second annual group. The director of the ensemble was Mr. Ryan Frane, director of jazz studies at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Mr. Frane led an all-day rehearsal of the group on June 27, 2008 at Apple Valley High School.

Assisting in the rehearsal were section coaches Adam Bestler (saxophone), Geoff Senn (trumpet), Dave Graf (trombone) and Kev Mills (rhythm). The selections the students rehearsed and performed were "Cute" by Neal Hefti, "Granada Smoothie" by Mark Taylor, "They Can't Take That Away From Me" by George Gershwin, arranged by Sammy Nestico and "All of Me" by Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks, arranged by Mark Taylor.

The performance was well-attended as the kids performed amazingly well. It is terrific to hear 12-14 year old young people sounding this incredible. A special thanks goes to Kelly Rossum for organizing the Twin Cities Jazz Festival and inviting our band to perform. Thank yous also go out to Dean Sorenson and Kjos Music for supplying the audition music and Eckroth Music for supplying folders for the rehearsals. Thanks also to John Zimmerman and the IAJE executive board for all your help with the event. We look forward to doing this event again next year. Check back here for audition material for the 2008-2009 Mid-Level Honor Band next winter.

Directors and Schools that were represented:

Dennis Lodin (Hopkins North J.H.S), Dave Miller (Valley M.S.), Mike Knutson (Buffalo Community M.S.), Kurt Claussen (Falcon Ridge M.S.), Brian Olson (Blake School), Geneva Fitzsimonds (South View M.S.), Joel Firchow (Falcon Ridge M.S.), Josh Anderson (Black Hawk M.S.), Barry Peterson (Black Hawk M.S.), John Herdan (John XXIII M.S. & Sts. Peter Paul and Michael M.S.), Eric Songer (Chaska M.S. West), Sarah Minette (Chaska M.S. East), John Greene (Falcon Ridge M.S.)

Listen to the band's performance
Cute
All Of Me
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Granada Smoothie

Thank you to Doug Schneider for recording and providing IAJE with these recordings

Watch the band's performance

Congratulations to this summer's band:

Alto Sax 1: Jack Hessburg, Falcon Ridge Middle School (Apple Valley)

Alto Sax 2: Dylan Younger, Hopkins North Junior High School

Tenor Sax 1: Sarah Kremer, St. Peter Paul & Michael Middle School (St. Cloud)

Tenor Sax 2: Kate Gerike, Chaska Middle School-East

Bari Sax: Tom Commers, Blake School (Hopkins)

Trumpet 1: Dan Wylie, Falcon Ridge Middle School (Apple Valley)

Trumpet 2: Claire Daughters, Buffalo Community Middle School

Trumpet 3: Jonathan Dorsch, Falcon Ridge Middle School (Apple Valley)

Trumpet 4a: Timothy Anderson, Black Hawk Middle School (Eagan)
Trumpet 4b: Nick Hiniker, South View Middle School (Edina)

Trombone 1: Alex Anderson, Black Hawk Middle School (Eagan)