The St. Louis High School Jazz and Steel bands participated in the 19th Annual Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival Thursday, April 27. The jazz band has been attending the festival for years, while the steel band is more of a recent addition. 

The bands spent the entire day at the festival playing for the crowd and also watching other bands perform. The event is a full day of music and music coaching. 

“It was very exciting,” shared junior Rachel Jewell, a pianist in the jazz band. “I learned something new. I always do!”

“It was really fun,” exclaimed freshman Noah Bobzein. Bobzein, a member of the jazz band, enjoyed the clinic that took place after the jazz band performed.

The band started the day with the jazz band performing for a crowd and then attending a clinic. “The clinic always helps us out,” shared Jewell. 

After the jazz band’s performance, the band moved to an outdoor amphitheater to enjoy performances by other bands. After Hastings’ performance, the SLHS steel band assembled onstage.

“I absolutely loved the energy when the steel band played,” stated Bobzein. Another freshman, Hayden Mayder, shared his thoughts.

“I think the songs Mr. Lawhorne picked out were great,” said Mader. “Without him, we would be playing some lame songs.” The band played some pretty iconic songs, such as Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”

These songs clearly touched the crowd, as a group of Hastings (and later St. Louis) students got up and started to dance! 

“I thought it was really cool because in previous years, there wasn’t that energy,” stated junior Noah Buchanan, a member of the steel band. “There weren’t a lot of people who stayed to watch us in other years, but they really showed up for us this year.”