Feb 23, 2010 hi line by CFHS journalism

e g h iin l Ti er THE

Feb. 23, 2010

Volume 50 Issue 18

1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Jazz bands perform in busy concert season Ellen Gustavson Staff Writer

The jazz ensembles are in the middle of a terrific season of shows and contests. They have performed in the IHSMA Jazz Festival, Tallcorn Music Festival and the Jazz Show. Most recently, they participated in the Tallcorn Music Festival last Friday at UNI. Jazz I received 8th place out of the 4A bands, and Jazz Too! received 3rd out of the 1A/4A second bands. Not only did Jazz I and Too! perform, but they were also able to listen to jazz bands from all over Iowa, some from as far as Sioux City. Jazz I member Louis Redfern said, “Tallcorn Jazz Festival is my favorite so far. Tallcorn has been the only one where we’ve been able to sit

and listen to a lot of different high school bands and hear how other schools sound,” he said. “The whole band gets to spend a little quality bonding time trying to park, drive around to eat, and enjoying some really great music.” In preparation for Tallcorn, the jazz bands played on Thursday during 4th hour for the rest of the band. This was actually very good practice for them. Redfern explained, “It’s easy to stand up in front of strangers that have been listening to nervous kids all day, but to play all alone to your friends and classmates is tough.” Before that they had their Jazz Show on Feb. 6 in the CFHS auditorium. That Saturday, the two jazz bands from the Peet and Holmes junior highs performed at 5 pm. After

an intermission, Jazz Too! played, followed by the Jazz Choir and Jazz I. The show also featured guest artist Mike Michaliceck on saxophone and jazz vocalist Samantha Takes. Both groups received a Division I rating at the Iowa High School Music Association Jazz Festival, with Jazz I receiving a perfect ballot for sight-reading as well. The festival was held at Sumner-Fredericksburg High School, on Saturday, Jan. 30, with eleven other bands participating as either class 2A or 4A (Jazz I and Jazz Too! Both as class 4A). All these performances have come from a lot of hard work. Last year, 11 seniors out of the 17 members of Jazz I graduated, which meant this year’s band was very young. However, they have come

and better production than past years. For those planning to go, expect to hear the women’s choir sing pieces from Latin America. The men’s choir will be singing remixes of “The lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Stand by Me.” The concert choir will also be performing things from the musical Wicked. Some other offerings include “Hosts,” sung by Carter Allen and Gage Stoneman with Tyler Brewer on guitar; “Into the West,” sung by Dylan Martin and Heather Kelly with Eric Neil on piano; “Lean on Me,” sung by the men’s choir; “Makes Me Wanna Pray,” by Kassy Salmon and the concert choir; and “John Williams is the Man,” sung by Nick Carlo, Dan Harter, Chris Kempf and Reed Bowden. Additionally, Tyler Brewer will sing “I Love the Way” and will team up with Luke

Skiles and Nino Costerella to perform “Hey there Delilah” and “1,2,3,4.” Mackenzie Meeker and Costerella will sing “If It Means a Lot to You;” vocal jazz will perform “Alfie” and Catherine Dunbar and Stefa Vallentine will cover “Samson.” Other performances on the schedule include “Hey Soul Sister,” sung by Alex Stewart; “Alone in the Universe,” by Dylan Martin and Nick Carlo; “Hometown Glory,” by Ebony Kunkle; “The Scientist,” by Alex Stewart and Jacob Daily; “Keep Breathing,” by Melina Gotera and Sarah Postel; “Nella Fantasia,” by Ashley Mason; “Imagine,” by Megan Pattee; “Fireflies,” by Riley Martin, Kassy Salmon and Brennan Winters; “At the Beginning,” by Sarah Wallingford; and “Somewhere Out There” by Kelsey Finke. “It will be an awesome night of music!” Wohlert said.

Hannah Van Meeteren Photo

Senior Brendon Wood plays trombone with the jazz ensemble at a recent practice for Friday’s Tallcorn Music Festival. together to play extremely well this year. One of their biggest strengths is the individual talent each section has. “Every section has at least one all-state musician; most have two,” said Redfern. “We can show off any section, which is rare.”

The jazz bands will next perform at NEIBA District Jazz Festival, on March 6 at Linn-Mar High School. They will also play at the Pops Concert, which on Tuesday and Thursday, March 9 and 11 at the CFHS North Gym.

Choir hosts pops concert Nominations taken Kaylee Micu Staff Writer

The CFHS choir members are eager to raise their voices in their pops concert coming up on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Orchard Hill Church. Tickets will be $4 for adults and $3 for students. Activity passes will also be accepted. This pops concert is sure to be a thrill for everyone who sees it because this year’s theme is Coffee Shop Open Mic night. “Each CF choir will be performing as well as small groups and solos. We will have treats and refreshments for a free will donation for Haiti efforts. We are also kicking off our prom dress fund raiser that night,” choir director Kendra Wohlert said. To spice up the acts, various types of lighting and sound effects will be used this year in a goal for it being a bigger

for GoldStar award Meg Lane Staff Writer

They build the foundation of our education, and now, the R.J McElroy Trust and KWWL Television are rewarding those Black Hawk County teachers with the GoldStar teacher award. The award not only gives a prestigious honor of outstanding teaching, but it also includes a $1,000 cash award. The idea behind the award was to promote good teachers and how important they are for the future. Cedar Falls has had multiple recipients, most recently with English teacher Diane Flaherty winning last year. “I was thrilled and so humbled. I was grateful for the person who took the time to nominate me. I could not have been more surprised when they

all walked in my room last year, but it also reminded me that I stand on the shoulders of so many teachers who have inspired me to become better, whether they were my teachers or my peers,” Flaherty said. “Anytime someone notices you are doing a good job, it makes you feel good. I feel lucky to know that, but there are Gold Star teachers all over this district who go unsung.” James B. Waterbury, trustee of the R. J. McElroy Trust, said, “We wish to honor teachers who truly make a difference in the lives of their students, teachers who instill in their students a love of learning.” Nominations must be in by March 1 to the office, the public library or www.mcelroytrust.org. Teachers who are nominated will be notified by March 24.