Bands do well as combo prepares for nationals!

UPDATED: It was an award-winning day at the Interior Jazz Fest in Kelowna on April 11 as SD83 bands earned gold and silver and six students were recognized individually as outstanding performers.

Both the Salmon Arm Secondary Sullivan Jazz Band and the Sullivan Jazz Combo earned a gold standing at the festival, while the Jackson Jazz Band earned a silver standing. Erin Hiebert – SAS Jazz Band (alto sax and vocals), Gray Simms – SAS Jazz Band and Jazz Combo (cornet and vocals), Luke Rivet – SAS Jazz Combo (drums), Matt Berke – SAS Jazz Band and Jazz Combo (guitar) and Zachary Naish – SAS Jazz Band (piano) and Evan Reed from the Jackson Jazz Band (tenor sax) were recognized as outstanding performers and each received a plaque and a cheque for $80 in recognition of this achievement!

The festival was a tune-up for the Sullivan Jazz Combo as it heads to Ottawa from May 15 – 18 to participate in MusicFest Canada, a national festival featuring the best high school ensembles from around the country.

Music teacher David Izik-Dzurko reports that locals can come and hear these and other talented musicians from around the school district as all of these outstanding performers will be playing at the Big Band Dance, Thursday, May 23rd from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m at SAS Sullivan.

This is the best deal in town – nine bands and over 150 musicians will fill the SAS Sullivan Atrium with sweet sounds for an evening of dancing.  Tickets are available at Acorn Music for just $5.  A concession will be available.  All proceeds go to the Music Composition program at SAS Sullivan.