ArtsQuest is proud to have hosted the 13th annual SteelStacks HS Jazz Band Showcase Finals March 23 in the Musikfest Café. Sponsored by King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC, the event featured jazz groups from Pennsylvania competing in front of a live audience and a panel of judges.

After four preliminary rounds, seven ensembles advanced to the finals, where each band performed a 20-minute set.

This project, supported by media partner, Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, is a music-in-education program of ArtsQuest and the Moravian University Music Department’s Jazz Studies Program.

Finals results

Section awards

Best Reed Section: Kutztown HS Jazz Ensemble

Best Trumpet Section: Easton HSl Jazz Ensemble

Best Trombone Section: North Penn HS Navy Jazz Ensemble

Best Rhythm Section: Upper Moreland HS Jazz One

Solo Awards

Best Jazz Saxophone/Woodwind — Gabe Dechellis (alto sax), Easton HS

Best Jazz Trumpet — Liz Johannesson, North Penn HS, Columbia

Best Jazz Trombone — John Petinelli, Easton HS

Best Jazz Rhythm Soloist — Liam Ritter, Upper Moreland HS

Best Overall Jazz Soloist — Reid Justeson (alto sax), Kutztown HS

Band ratings    

Kutztown HS Jazz Band — Superior

North Penn HS Navy Jazz Band — Superior

Upper Moreland HS Jazz One — Superior

Southern Lehigh HS Jazz Society — Excellent

North Penn HS Columbia Jazz Band — Superior

Easton Area HS Jazz Band — Superior

Quakertown Community HSl Jazz Band — Superior

Overall band

Winner (1st place): Upper Moreland HS Jazz One

Contributed article