On the evening of April 25, 2026, the annual Lakewood High School Jazz Concert took place at 7 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium. This event showcased the remarkable growth and technical skill of the district’s young musicians and drew in many members of the community.
The concert featured three groups, each bringing its own style and energy to the stage. Senior Jazz Band member Julius Janke said, “All types of jazz are different. We played All the Things You Are, which is a samba type of jazz, but then we played Sing, Sing, Sing, which is just a classic.”
The Lakewood High School Jazz Workshop, the LHS Jazz Band and the Alumni Jazz Band performed a range of pieces, from upbeat to slower selections.
The Jazz Workshop, which is open to any musician, allows students to create music more independently. Students Liam Wallace, Sawyer Brent, Dylan Emerson, Christopher Pongracz, Braydon Raycher, Daniel Zagrebin and Celina Dang receive a lead sheet that tells them the chords for the melody, but most other elements are left to the musicians, including harmony parts and solos.
Band Director Clint Steinbrunner said, “Jazz Workshop is like a line drawing, and then having to add in all of the coloring to it.”
They opened the concert with “Sonnymoon for Two” by Sonny Rollins, a catchy tune that leaves plenty of room for musicians to improvise with rhythm and phrasing. They then performed “St. James Infirmary,” a traditional American folk and jazz song popularized by Louis Armstrong, which tells the story of a man mourning his lost love.
The final song performed by the Jazz Workshop was “St. Thomas,” a lively, Caribbean-inspired jazz piece with a bright, catchy melody.
The Alumni Jazz Band, composed of Lakewood High School alumni, then took the stage. It is conducted by Clint Steinbrunner, Brian Maskow and Dale Hildebrand. The group opened with “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Billy Strayhorn, a bright, upbeat jazz standard with a swinging rhythm, made famous by Duke Ellington in the 1940s.
The second song was “Stormy Weather” by Harold Arlen, featuring vocal soloist and singer-songwriter Clare Feorene Ciolli. The piece is slow yet expressive, conveying deep sadness and longing. The final song performed by the Alumni Jazz Band was “Spain” by Chick Corea, an energetic piece with Latin influences that begins with a classical introduction before transitioning into a lively, fast-paced section.
After the Alumni Jazz Band performed, the current Lakewood High School Jazz Band, conducted by Clint Steinbrunner, took the stage. The group opened with “Groovin’ High” by Dizzy Gillespie, a fast-paced bebop tune. It then performed “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” by Duke Ellington, featuring Julius Janke as a vocal soloist. The piece had a smooth, relaxed feel with an easygoing charm.
”I’ve never sung before, but I really wanted to experience my senior year … I’ve played saxophone all four years, and I just wanted to try something new, and it was a lot of fun,” said Janke.
The third song played by the Jazz Band was “All the Things You Are” by Jerome Kern, a jazz standard that symbolizes romantic adoration. It is known for its multiple key changes, giving it a distinctive structure.
The band then transitioned into “Misty” by Erroll Garner, featuring junior vocal soloist Evelyn Lardi. It is a slow, romantic jazz ballad that is dreamy and expressive. Lardi’s voice, combined with the instruments, created a warm and intimate atmosphere.
The final song performed by the Jazz Band was “The Chicken” by Alfred James Ellis, a funky jazz tune featuring an extremely catchy bass line and several horn riffs.
The final part of the concert was when both the Jazz Band and the Alumni Band came together and performed a classic jazz song that everyone knows and loves,“Sing, Sing, Sing” by Louis Prima. The high-energy piece is known for its driving drum rhythms and powerful brass sections, providing an intense and fitting conclusion to the night.
Audience member Lee Ann Isaaz said, “It’s important to show up for people … it’s nice to see kids so passionate about something.”
The concert highlighted the strengths of these young musicians. With a wide range of jazz styles, the audience was able to see the true dedication that these students and alumni have.
