As winter approaches, new activities are beginning. Jazz band season is here and many students can be found rolling up to the music hall for morning practice Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 6:45 a.m. This year there are 19 students in the jazz band. They will perform and compete at multiple events throughout the winter including State Jazz Band. 

Band director Jarrod O’Donnell said he is looking forward to the upcoming season. 

Also looking forward to jazz band this year is freshman Alex Garcia. She plays the bass trombone. She said she enjoys jazz band because they are working on the song “Africa” by Toto. “It’s just fun,” Garcia said. “Waking up at five in the morning, just to go to jazz band, it’s fun.”

Fellow freshman Abbi Richter is in her first year of jazz band. She plays the alto saxophone for concert band, but in jazz band she can be found with the much bigger bari saxophone. This is her first time playing this instrument. She said she enjoys jazz band, but that “it’s hard getting up in the mornings.” Her favorite thing about jazz band is getting to spend time with her friends, especially Hana Holtz. “The queen being there just makes everything better,” Richter said.

Jazz band’s first performance will be at Swing Inn on Thursday, Jan. 16.