The NIU Jazztet and NIU Jazz Orchestra performed at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, February 24 and both groups received praise from adjudicators and several individual NIU students received outstanding recognition awards at the festival.
For the NIU Jazztet performance Rob Nordli (graduate tenor saxophonist) earned outstanding recognition.
For the NIU Jazz Orchestra, Nordli, Sarah Clausen (senior alto saxophonist), Andrew Strzyzewski (graduate alto saxophonist), Jonathan Daugherty (graduate tenor saxophonist), Kyle Brooks (senior baritone saxophonist), Frank McKearn (sophomore trumpeter), Antonio Foster (sophomore pianist), San Dando (senior bassist) and Paul Perrilles (sophomore drummer) all received outstanding recognition certificates.
As Reggie Thomas, Director of the NIU Jazz Orchestra and Coordinator of Jazz studies put it, “Nine of the 16 members of the Jazz Orchestra received recognition and every member of the band that performed a solo received outstanding recognition.”
Upcoming performances in the NIU Jazz Series
February 27 – Jazz Combo Fest, 6:30 p.m., The House Cafe, DeKalb
March 7 – University Jazz/Latin Jazz Ensemble, 8 p.m., Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
April 12 – NIU Jazz Orchestra, 8 p.m., Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
April 17 – Jazz Combo Fest, 6:30 p.m., The House Cafe, DeKalb
April 18 – Latin Jazz,/University Jazz Band, 8 p.m., Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
April 24 – NIU Jazz Ensemble, 8 p.m., Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
