The Greene County High School Jazz Band is looking to finish the year strong after a couple of competitions.

Band Director Wes Anderson says the students started the year at the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz festival, where the Rams finished in ninth place. Anderson points out the Trition Jazz Festival at Iowa Central Community College was canceled due to snow and the final contest was at the Iowa High School Music Association State Jazz Festival and they earned a Division II-rating. He explains while the jazz band is always looking to improve, he highlights one area of concentration for this year.

“One of our big focuses this year was to get improv, like jazz improvisation really, really going. We had some students that took that challenge and did a great job. I hope people listening can come hear us sometime. The kids are doing a great job with improv and really learning to play multiple jazz styles. That’s kind of our big goal.”   

Anderson says there are three more performances left for people to see the jazz band, including the high school Pops Concert on March 5th and the Awards Concert on May 6th. He notes the final event will take place also in May with BBQ and Blues.