![Photo of Del Norte High Band student member holding an award from the recent Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival, click to find out more.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776187265/dnusdorg/qdb2azythmttxf3n7u7i/Band14-13-26.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776187265/dnusdorg/qdb2azythmttxf3n7u7i/Band14-13-26.jpg","width":452}])
- Headlines and Features - Del Norte High
Del Norte High jazz bands earned top honors at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival, highlighting an outstanding year for the program—click to learn more!
The Del Norte High music department continues to have an amazing year.
On April 11, the Del Norte High Jazz Bands competed at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival near Eugene, Ore. More than 20 schools took part.
Del Norte’s “A” band took first in the AA division, while the Warrior “B” band claimed third in that category.
“Hard work, perseverance, and practice pays off,” said Director Daniel Sedgwick. “Both groups shined this past weekend, and we are extremely proud of them."
Del Norte also had individual success.
Reese Blankenship received an outstanding musicianship award for her singing with the A band. Just two participants were so honored.
Sedgwick also had high praise for his other soloists – Obadiah Joseph, Ian Stanley, Dylan Walkley, Nathan Origel, and Evan Mitchell, who performed for the A band, along with Westin Purks, Marcus Weir, George Clark, and Micah Reyman.
The band’s rhythm section also earned high praise for its work with both bands. They included Origel on piano, Mitchell on guitar, Ruby Aguilar on bass, and Vaughn Schmidt on drums.
“Our drum set player (Schmidt) is one of the most musical drummers I have ever had the pleasure of teaching,” Sedgwick said.