Alliance High School to host first Jazz Night

The Alliance Review
Updated ·2 min read
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Alliance High School's Jazz Orchestra will be among the musical groups performing April 20 at the school.
Alliance High School's Jazz Orchestra will be among the musical groups performing April 20 at the school.

ALLIANCE – Alliance High School’s Music Department is preparing for Thursday’s Jazz Night.

The night will feature the AHS Jazz Orchestra with performances from Minerva High School, Carrollton High School, Canton South High School, Malone University and the Alliance Symphony Big Band. The performances will include jazz standards, swing charts, funk, fusion, blues and other styles.

The event will start at 5:30 p.m. in the main gym with a pre-show spaghetti dinner fundraiser hosted by Carrie Chunat, AHS choir director, and some of her students. Attendees will have the option of enjoying a spaghetti dinner for $7. Meals will also be available for takeout.

There will be vocal jazz performances starting at 6:15 p.m. by the AHS Concert Choirs, Choralaires and Jetsetters.

The instrumental jazz performances will start in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Each group will perform for 15 minutes leading up to the final performance by the Alliance Symphony Big Band, whose set will last about 45 minutes. There is no cost to attend the concert.

The AHS Jazz Orchestra started in September 2022 and debuted at the AHS Winter Band Concert in December. The band includes 23 students led by Billy Sheak, an AHS band teacher. The Jazz Orchestra started out as a jazz band a few years ago and has grown to include orchestra and choir students, as well. The students meet entirely outside of the school day to learn and rehearse.

The Jazz Night will be the first event of this kind in which the students have had a chance to take part.

“They are excited to play the music, but also to hear the other schools play, as well as myself with the Alliance Symphony Big Band. I am the drummer,” Sheak said.

Sheak’s goal is to make the Jazz Night an annual event and to have it grow over the years.

“I am excited to expose our community to more jazz music and building a solid Jazz scene in Alliance,” Sheak Said. “Jazz is America’s original music. It is built on improvisational skills and unity. Jazz is an important part of anyone’s musical education.”

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance High School to host first Jazz Night