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APRIL 10 -- The Michigan Tech Jazz Lab Band, under the direction of Mike Irish, placed second among 11 college groups competing in the 37th Annual University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz Fest on Friday, April 2. The University of North Dakota Jazz Ensemble, a perennial powerhouse, received the top honors. Michigan Tech was the only school in the collegiate division whose band members aren't music majors. In addition to its second place honors overall, the Jazz Lab Band ranked first in the festival's sightreading competition. "It is always very rewarding to do so well at a major jazz festival, and especially because we are competing against top-rated music schools," Irish commented. "We have developed a following at many of these events because the public enjoys our performances and they love to hear the'underdog perform well against the music schools." Receiving Outstanding Musicianship Certificates from the International Association of Jazz Educators were Alan Cross, trumpet (two); Paul Johnson, tenor sax; Jack Matheson, bass; Sam Miller, tenor sax; Jeff Sandoval, tenor sax; and Mark Olson, bass. |