Rhythm Rat Jazz Orchestra named Outstanding Band at CMU Jazz Weekend Festival

The Huron Rhythm Rat Jazz Orchestra performed at the 45th Annual Central Michigan University recently, competing in the AA division against 16 other advanced level ensembles.

CMU honors bands in each division with the following awards: Outstanding Section 1st, 2nd, 3rd place/ Outstanding Soloist 1st, 2nd, 3rd place/ Outstanding Band 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.

Huron trumpeter Jake Lee was awarded Outstanding Soloist – 1st Place. The Rhythm Rat Jazz Orchestra was awarded Outstanding Band – 1st place.

This was Huron’s first performance at CMU Jazz Weekend since the 1980’s.

The roster included:

Saxophones

Kevin Tan

Tim Kohn

Nathan Lee

Ethan Stancroff

Matt Kukucka

Andrew Wright

Trombones

Yuki Mori (lead)

Isaac Brooks

Alex Joseph

Johnson He

Christian Wright (Bass)

Trumpets

Jake Lee (lead)

Jibreel Johnson (lead)

Lucy Brabbs (lead)

Ethan Schwab

Will Harrison

Rhythm Section

Charles Berofsky (piano)

Clayton Farmer (piano)

Ben Reynolds (guitar)

Sai Paminighantam (guitar)

Austin Aldrich (bass)

Ian McCrystal (drums)

Oliver Mayman (drums)

CMU’s 45th Annual Jazz Weekend, one of the largest jazz festivals in the country, was developed in the early 1970’s by music professor Jack Saunders.

Jazz Weekend has hosted top headliners such as Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Bobby Shew and many others. Jazz Weekend has also brought CMU exceptional high school musicians from across the state of Michigan together to compete, inspire, and most importantly expand their knowledge of jazz.

 

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