The first qualifying competition for the Iowa Jazz Championships in Des Moines happens this weekend for the Greene County High School jazz band.
Director Becky Greiner says the district qualifier for the South Central Iowa Bandmaster’s Association is tomorrow at Winterset High School. She states that they didn’t participate last year, but this year they are going to compete in Class 3A.
She explains that normally to qualify for IJC at their district qualifier you have to place in the top three. However, Greiner points out another route that you can take.
“But in (Class) 3A, if you get in the top five, you’re doing pretty darn well and your chances of placing at other contests are very, very good. So we try to get in the top five for SCIBA and then that kind of sets us up for the rest of the season.”
They will perform a swing tune entitled “A Nasty Bit of Blues” by Doug Beach, a ballad by Chick Corea called “A Crystal Silence” with featured soloists Jasmine Mobley on alto saxophone and Riley Harrington on piano and a latino song, “Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan.
She invites everyone to come to Winterset High School tomorrow at 1:37pm to support their chances of qualifying for IJC in the spring.