Gehlen jazz band competes at Iowa Jazz Championships

(Photo contributed) Gehlen Catholic junior Sarah Jentz received an Outstanding Soloist Award for her alto saxophone solos during the Iowa Jazz Championship competition. [Click to enlarge]

The Gehlen Catholic School Jazz I Band made its first ever appearance in the Iowa Jazz Championships Tuesday in Des Moines.

Band member Sarah Jentz, a junior, brought home an Outstanding Soloist Award for her solos on alto saxophone during the band's performance.

"Our performance went really well," said Director Paul Niebuhr. "I was extremely pleased, especially for the first time down there."

(Photo contributed) Paul Neibuhr directs Gehlen Catholic's Jazz I band at the Iowa Jazz Championships Tuesday afternoon in Des Moines. This was the first year the Gehlen band has qualified for the state competition. [Click to enlarge]

Fifteen bands in Iowa qualified for each class, 1A through 4A, with the top two bands playing in the evening finals.

"We would have liked to place higher, but for the first time, we're not going to complain," Niebuhr said.

Jazz I performed at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Polk County Convention Complex, but did not place in the top eight.

Jazz I played three selections in the competition:

"Blues for Three Brothers" by Armando Rivera featuring Jentz on alto saxophone and Elisabeth Niebuhr on tuba. This is described as swing piece.

A ballad, "Missing You" by Fred Strive featuring Jentz on alto sax with an accompaniment by Emily Hutchins on piano.

A Latin piece, "C Jam Ala Mambo" arranged by Michael Phillip Mossman, featuring Jentz on alto saxophone, Jonathan Puhl and Elias Niebuhr, both on trumpet.

"Sarah has done a terrific job this year," said Niebuhr. "She really has a sense of what to do with the music while listening to the chords."

"Everyone was really excited to be there," Niebuhr said.

"The students were really impressed with it, some even in awe of it," he said of the competition.

"You know they're into it when we have 40 minutes to unload the bus and change, and they get it done in 15 minutes," Niebuhr said. "They were ready and rarin' to go."

Gehlen's Jazz I automatically qualified for the Jazz Championships when they placed second at the district qualifier in Sioux City in February.

Members of this year's band by section, are:

Saxophones -- Christopher Eral, Sarah Jentz, Melissa Kellen, Matt Klein, and Josh Schreiner.

Low brass -- Eric Berkenpas, Michelle Klein, Elisabeth Niebuhr and Shelby Puhl.

Trumpets -- Nicholle Britt, Elias Niebuhr and Jonathan Puhl.

Percussion -- Derek Bretey, Emily Hutchins, Becca Vaske, Josh Vaske and Zach Wurth.

Niebuhr said this is the most complete group he's directed at Gehlen in jazz band, citing strength in every section.

"Our rhythm section is our strongest to date," he said.

Cliff McMurray assists Niebuhr with the jazz band.

Niebuhr said he and McMurray select pieces that reflect the group's ability.

"We have been blessed to work with great clinicians," Niebuhr added.

Band members left for Des Moines Monday to take in some jazz performances, including Bobby Shue, Wayne Bergeron and Tower of Power.

Niebuhr also met up with a former student, Chad Eby, who now plays with Wynton Marsalis and served as a judge for the contest. Eby graduated from Benton Community Schools at Van Horne.

"It's neat for the kids to see you can come from a small Iowa school and play on the national stage," Niebuhr said, referring to his former student.

In Class 1A, the northwest Iowa area was represented by three schools, Gehlen Catholic, Rock Valley and Kingsley-Pierson, which was a wild card qualifier.

"It takes a lot to get a wild card position," said Gehlen's Director of Development Lisa Niebuhr. "It's neat to be able to say what great musicians we have in northwest Iowa. For three to come from our area, we are truly blessed."

She compares the Jazz Championships to a state athletic event.

In Class 1A, Rock Valley placed third and Kingsley-Pierson placed seventh. Plaques are presented to the top eight bands in each class, along with solo awards.

The Gehlen band members stayed for the evening finals where the top two finishers in each class competed for a first place finish, and outstanding awards were presented.