MV Swinging Stangs have busy week It was a very busy week for the Mount Vernon Swinging Stangs, with the school hosting its own state jazz competition at Mount Vernon Schools Monday, Jan. 22. Mount Vernon earned straight Division I ratings from the judges in the competition. Adjudicators worked with students from all schools following their performances on things they could improve. Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Swinging Stangs participated in a Corridor Jazz Project recording at 88.3 KCCK-FM, performing alongside guest artist Desmond Cervantez. A total of 10 bands performed on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Corridor Jazz Project. The Swinging Stangs will perform at the Voxman Building in Iowa City on Tuesday, March 5, at 8:05 p.m., as part of the KCCK Corridor Jazz program.
Lisbon hosted its first annual Lisbon Jazz Festival Thursday, Jan. 25. Bands performing included Central City, Anamosa, Solon, Mount Vernon Swinging Stangs, Maquoketa Valley and Lisbon.
Thursday morning saw a share of changes to the schedule, with one band pulling out of the festival due to illness and another having bus troubles in route, which director Joseph Arch called an exercise in flexibility.
“I loved getting our kids a chance to perform and hear other area bands,” Arch said. “Additionally, to get feedback this early in the year is invaluable. While the hosting is a pain, it is an extremely worthwhile pain.”
Students performed for adjudicators at Lisbon Schools Auditorium, and then were able to participate in a clinic with a music educator after their performances, with awards distributed at the end of the day. During Lisbon’s performances, a number of Lisbon students were in the audience to see upper classes perform.
Arch said that he is expecting the jazz festival to return to Lisbon in roughly the same time frame next year, and hopefully with more bands participating.
“We learned a lot about how to make the festival more efficient,” Arch said. “We will save all the materials we used this year and fine tune for next year.”
In Class 1A, Central City won first place.
In Class 2A, Lisbon Jazz Ensemble was first, followed by Maquoketa Valley second and Lisbon Jazz Lab third.
In Class 3A, Anamosa Jazz 1 placed first, followed by the Mount Vernon Swinging Stangs second and Solon Jazz I third.
Outstanding soloists went to Cooper McLaughlin from Central City in Class 1A, Aiden Jensen from Lisbon in Class 2A and Luke Stephens from Mount Vernon in Class 3A.
Overall outstanding soloist award went to Stephens.
It was a very busy week for the Mount Vernon Swinging Stangs, with the school hosting its own state jazz competition at Mount Vernon Schools Monday, Jan. 22.
Mount Vernon earned straight Division I ratings from the judges in the competition. Adjudicators worked with students from all schools following their performances on things they could improve.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Swinging Stangs participated in a Corridor Jazz Project recording at 88.3 KCCK-FM, performing alongside guest artist Desmond Cervantez.
A total of 10 bands performed on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Corridor Jazz Project.
The Swinging Stangs will perform at the Voxman Building in Iowa City on Tuesday, March 5, at 8:05 p.m., as part of the KCCK Corridor Jazz program.

Gallery • 18 Photos

Nathan Countryman

Lisbon Jazz Festival Lisbon High school 2