LHS JAZZ BAND AT TEMPLE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Left to Right: William Gilley, Eleanor Hale, Joseph Girard, Astrid Sifuentes, Ivan Varela, John Simon, Jordan Brown, Edgar Rangel, Juan Sanchez, director Sean Smith.
Left to Right: Ivan Varela, Juan Sanchez, William Gilley, Eleanor Hale. Contributed photos
The Liberty High School Jazz Band traveled to Temple, TX on April 1st and 2nd to participate in the 30th Annual Temple College Jazz Festival. On Friday evening, the band members took part in an All-Star Jam Session, learning and improvising on jazz standards alongside students and professional jazz musicians, including world-class recording artists Andre Hayward, Wycliffe Gordon, and Greg Gisbert.
The following day, the band presented their three-song set on the stage of the Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center, earning a 1st division rating for their performance. After their performance they had a clinic with Lee ‘Sparky’ Thomason, retired member of the Air Force Dimensions in Blue jazz ensemble, and followed it with a master class from Wycliffe Gordon, various sessions on jazz performance from the Temple College faculty and attending performances by other high school jazz groups. The event capped off with an awards ceremony and performance from the renowned Temple Jazz Orchestra featuring Mr. Gordon. Four band members earned Outstanding Musician Awards for their artistry, including Juan Sanchez on trumpet, Ivan Varela on alto saxophone, William Gilley on trombone, and Eleanor Hale on piano.