Charles City High School Jazz Band participates in Triton Jazz Festival

Press Staff Report

More than 300 high school musicians from 20 schools participated in the 11th Annual Triton Jazz Festival held Wednesday and Thursday, Jan 10-11, , hosted by Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

Class 3A schools including the Charles City High School Jazz Band performed on Wednesday.

Charles City saxophonist Kaity Heckers received a soloist award in Class 3A schools.

Weather prevented some bands from traveling to the competition, according to a news release from the festival, and paused a scheduled competition for Class 4A schools on Friday, but the show went on for those groups that could make it.

“Despite the weather making this a challenging week for not just schools, but also the clinicians and adjudicators we planned to bring in, it was so rewarding to hear the students performing and seeing them enjoy a fun learning environment,” said Jeremy Smith, director of athletic bands at Iowa Central.

“It shows how resilient our youth are to be able to perform at a high level, some without even meeting as a full group this week prior to attending,” Smith said.

Each participating band gave a performance before an adjudication panel of three jazz instructors, then received a clinic from an educator.

The Triton Jazz Festival was created when several band directors expressed the desire for a festival to provide feedback to high school bands before the Iowa High School Music  Association state contests begin each year. Bands now attend from across Iowa, as well as occasionally from out of state, to get the educational experience from guest clinicians and adjudicators, as well as the experience of traveling to start the contest season, according to the festival.

Because of construction going on at the Iowa Central auditorium and instrumental music area, the event was held this year at a Fort Dodge hotel.