Event Calendar & News : Student News

Jazz Ensembles and Students Take Home Many Awards From National Festivals

MSU Jazz Band I received many awards at the 37th Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival in Elmhurst, Illinois, Feb. 27–29, 2004. The band, along with MSU Octet I, also took home many awards from the Notre Dame 46th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival in Notre Dame, Indiana, Feb. 25, 27 and 28, 2004.

Elmhurst College Jazz Festival

Five members received soloist awards from MSU Jazz Band I, under the direction of Rodney Whitaker:

• Christopher Bullock, tenor saxophone 

• Thaddeus G. Dixon, drums

• Mitchell P. Gabel, trumpet

• Gena M. Lack, vocalist

• Patrick A. Terbrack, alto saxophone

Notre Dame 46th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival

• MSU Jazz Band I was awarded an ensemble certificate for outstanding performance.

• The MSU Jazz Band I Saxophone Section received individual certificates for their outstanding performance of A Night in Tunisia with Jazz Band I.

• Each of the following musicians received citations of merit from all four of the judges for outstanding soloist performances with Jazz Band I: 

• Christopher Bullock, tenor saxophone
• Thaddeus G. Dixon, drums
• Lynn A. Gruenewald, alto saxophone
• Lorenzo T. Macuja, tenor saxophone
• Curtis D. Taylor, trumpet
• Patrick A. Terbrack, alto saxophone
• Benjamin J. Williams, bass

• MSU Octet I was awarded an ensemble certificate for outstanding performance, under the direction of Derrick Gardner.

• Each of the following musicians received citations of merit for outstanding soloist performances with Octet I:

• Christopher Bullock, tenor saxophone
• Kristopher Johnson, trumpet
• Lawrence Lethers, drums
• Patrick A. Terbrack, alto saxophone
• Benjamin J. Williams, bass (received two citations)

About the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival

The Elmhurst College Jazz Festival is a professionally judged competition with an emphasis on education. Judges conduct clinics and critique the performances. Awards are presented to outstanding ensembles, individual musicians, student composers, and arrangers. Representative bands, combos and vocalists that are designated “outstanding” are invited to play at the festival’s annual Awards Night Concert.

About the Notre Dame 46th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival

The Notre Dame 46th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival featured 10 collegiate bands competing before a panel of distinguished judges. Most of the groups performed a variety of jazz styles to demonstrate their mastery of both old and new music, with different tempos and easy-to-listen-to music alternating with challenging pieces.