1st Place: Memorial Jazz I
2nd Place: Regis High Jazz
3rd Place: North High Jazz

If anyone ever makes the bold and inaccurate statement, “Jazz is dead,” first do me a favor and slap them in the face. Next point to the highly successful annual jazz festival held in Eau Claire every year. Then finish them off with humility by pointing to the high-quality school bands in town, the best of which are jazz. The veritable cream of the crop is Memorial Jazz I, which went to New York yet again this spring to compete in Essentially Ellington (an honor in itself), but for the first time came back with a victory! Regis Jazz Band isn’t a slouch, either, as can be attested by those that heard them at Eau Claire Jazz Festival in spring, where they won top honor. Continuing the local award-attracting jazz is North High Jazz, who in spring took home third place at UW-La Crosse’s Jazz Festival. Ska may be dead, but jazz sure ain’t. – Trevor Kupfer