Lakewood High School hosted its annual Jazz Festival on Feb 26. It brought together many student musicians from three schools to play for an enthusiastic crowd.
Harding Middle School and Garfield Middle School both came to play that night, preparing themselves for what it would be like in the next few years when they advanced to high school.
The Lakewood high schoolers themselves also played during this concert, delivering a performance that
displayed the talent they’ve put into it. They rehearse twice a week before school to produce the best sounds.
“It was definitely enough practice and I was prepared,” Sebastian Bukys said.
The concert started with Harding students, with John Blasko. They played two songs, amusing the crowd with their talent. Dressed in their classic pink ties, they banded together to make intriguing sounds that were admired by many. Next, Garfield took their turn, showcasing their ability to dazzle the crowd. They stayed on tempo and kept the flow, blending all the sounds to treat the audience’s ears.
The middle school players had to step up, as it was more difficult and daunting to play with a big crowd of older students, but they powered through and created magnificent music. Once they finished their tunes, the high schoolers came on stage. The first group was small, consisting of saxophone, guitar, piano, percussion, and trumpet, with only one or two people per instrument category.
“[It] ran really smoothly,” Bukys said.
After a few jams, the next group came on. It was conducted by Clinton Steinbrunner, and there were more people in this group than in the previous one.
It was a larger group, and they still played phenomenally, blending the sounds, tightening the rhythm, and including brilliant solos.
Henry Janko, a saxophonist, performed a solo, captivating the audience and drawing them in quickly. The soothing notes he played were outstanding, using his courage to produce them all by himself.
Bukys also had an electrifying solo, creating a powerful and impressive performance. He also plays the saxophone, delivering a message to the crowd.
To close off this wonderful concert, this remaining group played a song called “Salta,” a Latin chart featuring a couple of solos.
“I think both the groups played very well on the concert,” Steinbrunner said.
It closed the night off with a fun, uplifting melody that the crowd could dance to. It was an outstanding performance and the effort these students put into it paid off.
This concert was a hit, engaging the crowd with entertaining, upbeat songs to vibe to. Given all the time and effort put into this project, it was a success.
“I think the concert was great, it was cool to listen to all the other groups and hear so much music being performed,” said Jack Janko, a freshman saxophone player in the band.
From the perspective of a player in the band, they constantly work hard to create such compelling music, and they don’t often get to hear others play.
“All the groups played really well,” Bukys said after hearing each section.
“I think it’s really cool that we get to see so many different people perform and share their talent,” Janko added.
All the work these students put in finally came together, working together and putting it in front of the spotlight to produce these fantastic beats.
“It was really fun to be out there with my friends and see our hard work come to fruition,” Janko said.
The experience of being in Jazz Band is like no other. It’s a positive atmosphere with welcoming people. If you make mistakes, no one will judge you, and they’ll try their best to help.
The students all put in effort in and out of rehearsal to improve their musical abilities so that the concerts go smoothly.
“I really value the work ethic and good attitude that all the players bring to their bands,” Steinbrunner said.
Jazz Band Festival 2026 is next year. This concert was fantastic, and the next one will be as well. Make sure to mark your calendars!
