The Greene County High School Jazz Choir is looking to make it back to the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships and it starts with an upcoming performance.

Director David Heupel says Ram Jive has 13 students in it this year and they have already had a clinic-style performance at West Des Moines Valley High School earlier this month, along with a clinician that worked with the ensemble.

“We have a lot of talent back this year. We didn’t lose a lot from last year. So things are going really well because they pick up on things really quickly. I would say two of the three pieces we’re doing are probably the two hardest that we’ve done, and they’ve jumped on it pretty well.”   

Heupel points out the snow and winter weather canceling and delaying school didn’t help but he is thrilled to have as much talent returning this year. He notes that on Monday is the Iowa High School Music Association State Vocal Jazz Festival at Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School. 

Heupel says the state festival is a rating system and Ram Jive has received 11 Division I-ratings in the 12 years that jazz choir has been in existence. Ram Jive performs at 5pm and Heupel invites the public to watch them perform. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for individuals 62 and older and $5 for students.