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Guest trombonist Wycliffe Gordon joins North Scott Comm School District jazz showcase in Eldridge
Summary
Wycliffe Gordon performed with North Scott Comm School District jazz ensembles at a Tuesday night showcase in Eldridge. The event included student awards, four All-State Jazz Band recognitions and announcements of upcoming performances in Des Moines and Bettendorf.
Wycliffe Gordon, a nationally known trombonist and educator, joined students from the North Scott Comm School District for a jazz showcase at Eldridge High School on Tuesday night, featuring performances by eighth-grade, Jazz 2 and Jazz 1 ensembles, student awards and announcements about upcoming appearances in Des Moines and at Tanglewood in Bettendorf.
The showcase highlighted several student honors: four seniors were recognized for placement or alternate placement in the Iowa All-State Jazz Band (class 4A) — senior Colin Miner (tenor saxophone), Blake Miguel (trumpet), Zach McMahon (trombone) and Nathan Anderson (alto saxophone). Braden Vattenstall received the Jazz 2 “Most Improved” award, Anthony Battenstahl was named Most Improved Jazz Musician, and Blake Miguel received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
The program opened with the eighth-grade jazz band under the direction of Miss Ashley Doblo, followed by Jazz 2, directed by Mr. Collins, and Jazz 1. Gordon joined students onstage for several numbers and was introduced by school music staff as both a performer and clinician. The evening included a mix of repertoire — from arrangements of spirituals to swing and original compositions — and featured student soloists listed in the program and announced from stage.
Event organizers told the audience that printed programs ran out and that a downloadable digital copy was available via posted QR codes and lobby signage. Staff announced that a group of students and staff will travel to Des Moines later in the week to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association convention; the band also announced a public performance scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Tanglewood in Bettendorf.
Seniors were recognized during the program; staff called each senior by name and asked them to come forward for acknowledgement. The concert concluded with a full-department finale, described by staff as the traditional year-end closer, titled “Bang Bang.”
