Schools showcase musical talent

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County schools showed off their musical talent and received recognition for their skills over the weekend.

At Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz Festival held at Clear Creek Amana, Winfield-Mt. Union’s Jazz Band earned a second-place finish under the direction of Lindsey Pogmore.

With this, they will continue onto the Iowa Jazz Championships as one of 15 from their Iowa high school classification.

According to their website, “the Iowa Jazz Championships showcases 60 of the state's finest high school jazz ensembles … All ensembles perform in the daytime preliminary competition, and the top two bands from each classification perform in the evening finals competition.”

This year’s Iowa Jazz Championships will occur Tuesday, April 4.

Two Mt. Pleasant Jazz bands competed, as well.

Jazz 1, directed by Jim DePriest, took home third place for Class 3A and Jazz 2, directed by Laura Westfall, took home second in the second bands category.

Mt. Pleasant showed off their musical chops in their last competition of the show choir season at Fort Madison’s Invitational Saturday.

InMotion began the competition off strong as they earned a spot in the finals with a daytime first place in Class 3A. They also received recognition for the best final song in their set.

In the finals, InMotion snagged first runner-up of the competition behind Southeast Polk.

Mt. Pleasant’s middle school show choir, Chain Reaction, brought home second place for their section of competition.

Just like their senior high counterpart, Chain Reaction finish just behind Southeast Polk.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com