NOCTILUCA November 2017

FEATURES Appleton, Wisconsin November 2017 Vol. XXIII

Issue II

Page 8

Jazz weekend at Lawrence brings high schools from around state

outside point of view. He also entered the Minus One Combo to play at the festival, getting as many North Students involved as he could. Trombone player Kaden Buck shared why he thought the jazz festival was a cool experience: “We got to play our music for professionals in the ¿ eld of jazz; we

were able to see an outside opinion from college professors from around the country.” Tenor saxophonist Jack Cain said, “The insight from professionals gave me, and the band as a whole a much deeper feeling in the style of jazz known as ‘be- bop.’” As stated by Jack, it was a great weekend for North’s

more, not knowing he would be back to serve as their di- rector of Jazz and Improvi- sational studies for over 25 years. Sturm received a nu- merous amount of Downbeat Awards, an award respected as one of the highest jazz recognition honors. To have Sturm as such an intricate part of Lawrence’s musical education was a gift. He was instrumental in starting the Jazz Education Weekend at Lawrence. Clinician Reggie Thomas made a point to tell us about the legacy Sturm has left behind. He truly val- ued education and wanted to share it with everyone he could. North has participated in the festival for many years. This year, North’s jazz band was taught by clinician Regi- nald “Reggie” Thomas, The Director of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University. He worked with the group for an hour, offering as much in- sight as he could. Mr. Thaldorf says it’s important that we gain an

jazz band and many other jazz loving students. Students and members of the community were able to listen to many performances, Lawrence’s Jazz Combos played and the Storms/Nocturnes Trio head- lined the weekend with a per- formance in the Lawrence Chapel. The legacy left by Fred Sturm affects the teen- agers of this community in a positive way.

By Henry Ptacek Coach buses unload stu- dents from high schools across Wisconsin, musicians pull out their trumpets, and drummers unload their cym- bals. The scene was set early on a rainy morning; a day full of jazz and learning. The Fred Sturm Jazz Celebra- tion Weekend is a memory of Fred Sturm, a renowned jazz composer and musician who taught at Lawrence Uni- versity. The weekend brings in clinicians from respected colleges around the Midwest to teach young jazz musi- cians. This year, just like past years, Appleton North’s top jazz band took part in the clinic to learn and gain any and all they could. Fred Sturm, former stu- dent at Lawrence University, created Lawrence’s ¿ rst jazz band as a 19-year-old sopho- Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend

Reginald Thomas singing to teach the band about phrasing. Photo by Karen Cain.

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