Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2006, Page 45

Description:	Junior Eric Anderson practices the tromboneduring class. Anderson has been playing thetrombone for more than five years. He hasbeen a member of the jazz band for all threeyears he has been in high school.Senior Justin Thompson plays the saxophoneduring a jazz band concert. During his junioryear, Thomspon spent a Semester at Sea andtraveled all over the world. Thompson planson attending the University of Vermont, whichis located on Lake Champlain.Every year the Bloomington North Jazz Band makes tripsto various competitions and festivals. This year the groupattended festivals at Indiana State University, PurdueUniversity, and Illinois State University.In February the band made a special trip to the BerkleeJazz Festival in Boston. The Berklee Jazz Festival isconsidered to be one of the most-respected and elite festivalson the East Coast.While at the festival, the band competed against more than 30other bands. The jazz band placed fourth in its division. Alongwith its high finish as a team, the North band also had twosoloist winners. Senior piano player Julian Bransby and seniorbass player Nick Romy both won the individual soloist awards.What most of the band members will remember, however,is how much fun they had on the trip.It was really fun, said junior trombone player EricAnderson. We learned a lot.The band made the day-long trip in a charter bus. Themembers watched movies, listened to music, and talked tohelp pass time.Anderson said the trip had several highlights. Among themwere visiting West Pointe and meeting Miles Daviss drummer.He also enjoyed touring the city of Boston and hanging outwith his friends.Senior saxophone player David Kim also enjoyed the tripto Boston.It was a lot of fun and a good experience, Kim said. Itwas also cool because we were the only band from Indianathat competed.Kim is planning on attending the University of Notre Dameand joining the jazz band next fall.While the North students were in Boston, theyencountered typical Northeastern winter weather. The daybefore their return, there was a huge blizzard that dumped12 inches of snow on the city. The snow delayed the bandsreturn to Bloomington.It might have been the best part of the trip, Anderson said.We got back late, and we got to miss an extra day of school.Story by Gunner Hutchins and Leeanna CraigBand on the RunJazz Band 45
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/5849
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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