The Clarke Central High School Jazz Band stands outside of East Jackson Comprehensive High School after their performance in Jazz Large Group Performance Evaluation on April 18. CCHS assistant band director and fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson is proud of the dedication and sacrifices the students in Jazz Band have made. “I want them to enjoy what they’re doing, I want them to have a good time, and I want them to feel very proud about their performance that they’re going to put on the day for the judges. They worked really hard this entire year,” Simpson said. Photo courtesy of Christopher Simpson
The Clarke Central High School Jazz Band will be participating in Jazz Large Group Performance Evaluation at East Jackson Comprehensive High School on April 18.
The Clarke Central High School Jazz Band will compete in the Jazz Large Group Performance Evaluation on April 18 at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. The band will play two songs for a group of judges, similar to concert band LGPE.
“Based on our rating, it’ll kind of tell us where we are (and) how well we’re doing with our Jazz program. I want them to enjoy what they’re doing, I want them to have a good time, and I want them to feel very proud about their performance that they’re going to put on the day for the judges,” CCHS assistant band director and fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson said.
CCHS freshman Andy Magana plays the tenor saxophone for the Jazz Band and is looking forward to Jazz LGPE.
“(I’m) looking forward for the superior (rating) and just playing well. I have one of the solos so I hope I can play that well,” Magana said. “(Tenor saxophone, which I play in the Jazz band is) a second instrument. I’ve only played this for about 3 months, (but Jazz band) has gone really well.”
This year, the Jazz Band has put in extra hours of practice time. Simpson is proud of the commitment of the Jazz Band members and hopes that this will pay off at LGPE.
“Those group of kids (in Jazz Band), while they’re only 13 of them, I’m proud of them because not often times you have a group of kids that (are) willing and able to commit to a 7 a.m. rehearsal time,” Simpson said. “It’s not a class, it’s just you getting out of your bed and coming to school to rehearse. Those kids are just very dedicated to (Jazz Band), so I’m very happy for that.”
