Jazz band performs in Morningside festival

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School jazz band attended the Morningside Middle School Jazz Festival on Friday, March 19. The festival was a clinic format only this year, with no ratings or placings. This format was to ensure separation and safety of the schools and students attending.

H-M-S performed "The Black Cat," "Stand By Me" and "El Gato Gordo" with several students having solos. Judges had many favorable comments about the performance and also offered suggestions for future progress.

Jazz band members are: Jamie Diaz, Blake Meendering, David McIlroy, Moises Gonzalez, Blaine Finster, Lainie Raveling, Jayden Leth, Olivia Tait, Jordan Lux, Natalie Daggett, Frankie Mohni, Kamryn Ebel, Aiden Bush and Skyler Shaffer. Their band director is Lavila Nelson. The jazz band's final performance will be at the 7-8 Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 18 at 7 p.m., at the middle school gym in Hartley.