Jazz Band Performs at the 41st Annual New Trier Jazz Fest
On Saturday, February 3, the Loyola Academy Jazz Ensemble performed at the 41st Annual New Trier Jazz Festival. After the performance, our students participated in a clinic with professional trombonist and educator Dr. Javier Nero, one of the festival's featured performers for the evening's headlining concert, who provided valuable feedback and insight on the ensemble's performance. Throughout the day, the Loyola musicians took part in a variety of workshops and clinics led by other professional Jazz musicians and educators and attended performances of other schools and featured groups.
The festival drew participation from over forty schools across Illinois. The day concluded with the annual Band Director's Sight Reading Big Band—a tradition in which many of the band directors from participating schools come together on stage and perform advanced level music for the first time without ever having looked at it before. Loyola Academy Band Director Sean McQuinn participated and performed on the piano and was featured as a soloist on the closing number.
Loyola Academy soloists for the morning performance included: Michael Dziekan '26 (trumpet), Antuan Nguyen '24 (tenor saxophone), and Zach Roth '24 (double bass/electric guitar).