Jazz Band
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| The Wildcat Jazz Ensemble is one
of several after-school, extra-curricular ensembles in which
students at Blue Springs High School may become involved.
Auditions for Wildcat Jazz are held at the end of the
marching season with rehearsals beginning mid-to-late
November. The group primarily rehearses on Tuesdays and
Thursdays after school with occasional sectionals on
Wednesdays. |
| The philosophy of Wildcat Jazz is
centered around the ideals of group dynamics, equal importance
of every person of the ensemble and the education of the
essence and traditions of jazz. The performing focus of the
band is audience centered, resulting in a variety of styles
from traditional big band charts to recent popular music being
represented in the folder. In accordance with the philosophy,
the music is selected first and foremost to be educational for
the students while being enjoyed by a wide variety of people.
Annually, Wildcat Jazz accepts 20-25 performances locally and
around the tri-state area of Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Of
these performances, three or four may be competitive in
nature. The increasing interest in the music of jazz at Blue
Springs High School over the past several years enabled the
creation of the Jazz Lab Band in the spring of 2001. This jazz
band rehearses on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Jazz
Lab involves 25-30 students and accompanies Wildcat Jazz to
several festivals and other performance venues in the local
Kansas City area. Wildcat Jazz was fortunate to
represent the state of Missouri in January 2002 as the state's
featured high school jazz band at the Missouri Music Educators
Association Convention. In the spring of 2003, Wildcat Jazz
will be opening for Country Tonite and the Dixie
Stampede in Branson, Missouri. |
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