Class 1A State Champs – North Mahaska Jazz Band
North Mahaska Jazz Band (submitted photo)
The North Mahaska Jazz Band (NM Jazz) under the direction of Bruce Peiffer, earned 1st Place at the Iowa Jazz Championships in Class 1A, on April 2, in Ames. Out of 15 competing bands, the top two bands in each class are chosen to compete in the finals. The finals are held at Stephens Auditorium on the ISU Campus. NM Jazz took to the Stage at 7:00 to compete against Earlham. (a band that placed 3rd in Class 2A one year ago) At the finals awards late that evening, NM Jazz was announced as the top band in Class 1A. NM Jazz has placed 1st, eight of the last 11 years. There are approx. 150 schools in Class 1A. NM Jazz has qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships every year since 1992.
Outstanding soloists awards were presented to Morgan Sampson on trombone and Emma Terpstra on flugelhorn. Morgan was also awarded a scholarship to a jazz camp this summer.
Earlier in the year the band earned it’s 27th Division One rating at State Contest in January, placed 1st at SE Polk Jazzfest and at Indian Hills Jazzfest in February. On March 2, NM Jazz placed 1st at SEIBA Districts and subsequently qualified for the Championships. The band boasted at least nine improvisational soloists at each contest and many outstanding soloists awards were presented over the season.
Members of the Jazz Band are as follows: Alto 1 – Jaylin Vander Wiel, Alto 2 – Emily Sampson, Tenor 1 – Jalayna Shipley, Tenor 2 – Macy Moore, Bari Sax – Katie Spoelstra, Bari Sax – Lucy Gipple, Flute – Ali Edmundson, Trpt. 1 – Emma Terpstra, Trp 2 – Elizabeth LaRue, Trpt.3 Addy Bollman, Trpt 4 – Lexi Van Utrecht, Trpt 5 – Colby Sampson, Trombone 1 – Morgan Sampson, Trombone 2 – Blake Readshaw, Trombone 3 – Natalie Moore, Trombone 3 – Matthew Goemaat, Trombone 3 – Anthony Goemaat, Bass Bone – Logan Shipley, Piano – Julie Yang, Guitar – Kaylah Yang, Bass – Alex (Big Al) Knockel, Drums – Brock Walkup, Ty Kelderman, Aux. Percussion – Crissy Northcutt and Tieron Lamberson.
Go to iowajazzchampionships.org for a look at the history of the Championships. Iowa Jazz Championships is proud to be sponsored by Music Lighting.
