Avon Jazz Band, String Ensembles Earn Gold

by AHS Assistant Director of Bands Jeremy Basso and 6-8 Grade Music Coordinator Kyle Miller

All five Avon Jazz Band and String Ensembles earned Gold Ratings at ISSMA contest last weekend, placing them one step closer to the ISSMA All-Music Award. While the Avon High School Jazz Band also received a Gold Rating, they fell just short of qualifying for ISSMA Jazz State Finals. The scoring margin was extremely narrow and we were incredibly close.

The Avon Middle School North Orchestra and Band, Avon Middle School South Orchestra and Band, and the Avon Middle School West Orchestra brought down the house on Friday night. More importantly the experience enriched students’ music education by giving over 200 of them opportunities to learn and perform multiple genres of music beyond standard middle school literature. This year will be the second year that both the bands and orchestras at North and South are in the running for the ISSMA All-Music Award and the first year for West Orchestra.

Congratulations to:

• Avon Middle School South Band - Director Leah Harris
• Avon Middle School South Strings - Director Kyle Miller
• Avon Middle School North Band - Director Vivian Buetow 
• Avon Middle School North Strings - Director Carmen Smith
• Avon Middle School West Strings - Director John McCaffrey
• Avon High School Band - Director Jeremy Basso

We are proud of the dedication and musicianship demonstrated by our students. Their hard work continues to reflect the strength of jazz education across our district.

Bravo!