Under the leadership of Mrs. Kim Mandrell, thirteen of our Mount Carmel High School Choir students studied and performed at the ILMEA Jazz Festival at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on Monday, November 4. Elijah Sherman studied and performed in the Senior Jazz Band.
Students at the Vocal Jazz Concert learned valuable jazz techniques, like improvisation and stylistic sounds. The students began practicing with guest conductor, Meredith McGuire, at 9:30 A.M and performed at 5:30 P.M. for an audience. There were a total of four songs the students sang that all had their own unique styles--soft jazz, Latin Groove, nightclub jazz, and gospel. Each song was different from the other and provided a challenge for the students’ voices.
Elijah Sherman performed with the Senior Jazz Band 2 and played four different songs with the ensemble for the concert that evening under the direction of guest conductor Rob Babel.
Maggee Bleyer, Elijah Gill, Jack Marvell, Timothy Rosignol, and Hannah Shular received callbacks for Honors Vocal Jazz. Callbacks were a small process, which consisted of a short audition. Results will be posted in mid December. Those that make the cut will continue on to All State in late January.
Picture credits to Joy Sherman, Kim Mandrell and Chuck Bleyer