On Friday, February 3rd, Jazz Bands II and III competed at the Viking Jazz Festival in Poulsbo. Band II took second place, with Derek Billey winning the Outstanding Saxophone Soloist award and Alice Mar-Abe winning Outstanding Piano Soloist. Jazz Band III won their division, and Janak Preston was awarded Outstanding Percussion Soloist.
On the following day, February 4th, Jazz Band I participated in the 16th annual Big Band Jazz Festival at Bellevue College. Once again, they were one of the top three high school bands selected to perform in the evening concert, along with Roosevelt High School and Cheney High School from outside of Spokane. Garfield and Cheney ended up runners up to the festival winner, Roosevelt, but Garfield’s Homer Aalfs won the festival’s Outstanding Saxophone Soloist award.
Congratulations to all three Garfield jazz bands! Bands I and II are now getting ready to head off to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, being held February 24th-26th at the University of Idaho.
