Colfax holds final jazz band concert for the school year

COLFAX- The Colfax Junior/High School held their final Jazz Band Concert for the year on Monday, May 13.

First up was the smaller group including the students that compete, with a setlist including "Fancy Pants", "In a Sentimental Mood", and "Secret Love".

Soloists were Lauryn York on the trumpet for "Fancy Pants"; Darin Repp on the trumpet and Walter McGraw on tenor sax for "In a Sentimental Mood", and Winona McGraw on trombone for "Secret Love".

A total of 37 band members were on stage for the rest of the set playing "The Grinch", "Carry On Wayward Son", "Earth Wind and Fire Medley", "Make Me Smile", "The Boys are Back in Town" and "25 or 6 to 4".

On alto-sax, JP Wigen was a soloist for "25 or 6 to 4".

This year's Jazz Band took first at the Jazz Unlimited, Columbia Basin College.

At the Columbia Basin College Colfax Jazz Band took home Outstanding Trombone Section Award-A Division and Outstanding Saxophone Section Award -A Division.

The band also took first at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Taking second at Mt. Hood Community College Jazz Festival, trombone player Winona McGraw took home the Outstanding Musician Award, and the band won Outstanding Saxophone Section Award-Division IV .

The band has won awards for outstanding trombone section A Division and Outstanding Saxophone Section.

Jazz Band instructor Mike Morgan spoke to the departing seniors JP Wigen, Lauryn York and Ian Rynearson, congratulating them on the 9 awards they'd put in the trophy case in their eight years in the band.

The seniors gave farewell speeches and presented personalized presents to Morgan.

Morgan thanked the seniors for all of the early mornings and long distance traveling.

"Your class placed in the top three in every festival for the past 3 years," Morgan wrote on the setlist, noting that it is an amazing statistic.

"You were terrific players and even better leaders to the youngsters! Go make your mark on the world! I am excited for your future," Morgan wrote.