Mid-Prairie to perform at state jazz band competition

The Mid-Prairie High School Jazz Band, under the direction of David Kunz, will be participating in class 2A at the 41st Annual Iowa Jazz Championships on Tuesday, April 5, in Des Moines.

The Iowa Jazz Championships are considered to be a unique event nationally due to the format and caliber of performances. The annual state championships event invites the top 15 jazz ensembles for each class, 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A (60 bands total), bringing together many of Iowa?s finest young jazz musicians to compete in one of the largest one-day festivals in the nation. Jazz bands qualify for the Iowa Jazz Championships through district and independent qualifying festivals. Each jazz ensemble performs a 20-minute set before a panel of three judges during the morning and afternoon competition. The top two performing jazz bands from each class will then compete that evening in the Des Moines Civic Center for the Iowa Jazz Championships state titles.

The Mid-Prairie High School Jazz Band will perform at the Hy-Vee Hall Conference Center at 11 a.m. The afternoon award ceremony will take place in the Des Moines Civic Center Main Hall at 5:15 p.m. and Championship Concert will begin at 7 p.m. There is a fee for admission and the evening finals competition.