Quakertown Community High School Wins SteelStacks Jazz Band Showcase presented by KingSpry for Second Year

BETHLEHEM, PA—Reigning champion Quakertown Community High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Frank Parker, has again been crowned the winner of the SteelStacks High School Band Jazz Showcase presented by King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC. The school took top honors during the finals of the eighth-annual event March 17 at the ArtsQuest Center.

William Tennent High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Charlie DiCarne, was named the showcase runner-up, and Upper Moreland High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Glenn Cowen, took third place.

The SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase featured 21 high school jazz bands from Pennsylvania and New Jersey performing during three preliminary rounds at SteelStacks in February. The top six bands then advanced to the finals March 17. In addition to the band honors, the competition’s judges also recognized several schools and individuals with ‘best section’ and ‘best soloist’ awards. The complete list of winners is as follows:

Section Awards
Best Reed Section: Quakertown Community High School
Best Trumpet Section: Quakertown Community High School
Best Trombone Section: William Tennent High School
Best Rhythm Section: Upper Moreland High School

Solo Awards
Best Jazz Saxophone/Woodwind: Alex Mercer, North Penn High School
Best Jazz Trumpet: Andrew Boyer, Quakertown High School
Best Jazz Trombone: Drew Sedlascik, William Tennent High School
Best Jazz Rhythm Soloist: Greg Kerrigan, Upper Moreland High School
Best Jazz Vocal Soloist: Nina Vitek, Upper Moreland High School
Best Overall Jazz Soloist: Isaiah Nygard, Kutztown High School

The SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase was presented by King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC, in association with 69-WFMZ-TV, Green Leaf Productions and the Moravian College Music Department.

For more information on the showcase, please visit www.steelstacks.org.