Competition Bands Are "Superior"
The Competition and Lab Bands were each awarded "Superior" ratings at the first Cavalcade of Band competition of the year and then finished first and third at the UARTS Jazz Competition.
CarabelloC@LSCHS.ORG
The Competition Band Season got underway in historic fashion on Friday, February 17, 2017 at the 8th Annual Cheltenham High School Jazz Festival, which featured thirteen local jazz bands. The La Salle Competition Band, which has won three of the last four Cavalcade of Bands Championships, received a rating of "Superior" in the Open Class, which is the highest rating awarded at the competition. In addition, the Trombone and Trumpet sections each received "Best Section Awards" and Scott Blanke '17 was named as a "Best Soloist." La Salle's Lab Band, which is essentially the JV Band and includes five freshmen, likewise competed and also received a rating of "Superior" in the Class A Competition. The Rhythm, Saxophone, and Trumpet sections of the Lab Band each received "Best Section Awards" and Jackson Schwartz '18 was named as a "Best Soloist."
Both bands returned to competition the next day for the University of the Arts Jazz Band Competition held at the Caplan Recital Hall on the corner of South Broad and Walnut Streets in Center City Philadelphia. The two bands competed in the same division with the Competition Band finishing first and the Lab Band finishing third. Once again, the Trombone and Trumpet sections each received "Best Section Awards" and Scott Blanke '17 (Trombone) and Tyler Dowling '17 (Trumpet) were named as "Best Soloists." The competition concluded with a performance by the University of the Arts "Z" Big Band, which is widely regarded as one of the best in the nation and includes two alums of La Salle's Music Program – Kevin Blanke '13 (Percussion/Drums) and Chris Mele '13 (Trombone).