Mundelein High School’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra participated in the Purdue Jazz Festival Jan. 19-21 in West Lafayette, IN.  The Jazz Ensemble placed first in the Large High School Big Band Division and was named Honor Band at the Festival. Approximately 120 different school bands from five states took part in the weekend festival.

In addition to performances, the jazz bands toured the Conn-Selmer Instrument facility in Elkhart, IN and watched 2017 MHS graduate Paige Eifert perform with the Purdue University’s top jazz band. In addition to the competition, the event included several headliner concerts along with other competitions, clinics and special events.

Featured performers included John Beasley’s MONK’estra; Artist-in-residence, Ryan Cohan, featured in concert with the Purdue Jazz Band; and world-renowned trumpeter, Dan Fornero and composer Victor Goines, director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University, as the headliners for the Festival Finale Concert with the Purdue Jazz Band. The awards and honors were announced during this concert.
Andy Sturgeon and Jerald Shelato direct the instrumental music program at MHS.