To the editor:
Once again, kudos be bestowed upon Shawano High’s jazz orchestra entry at Purdue University where they, under Mr. Chris Kent’s tutelage, prevailed as top dog out of 100 other school entrants.
Wake up, all Shawano! The Shazz band is 6 years old and by now should be appreciated as a city treasure for its artistic accomplishments in a music style that has been pretty much “foreign” to a city that is mainly “cowboy-polka” in musical taste. Never too late to change, folks!
Jazz has elevated itself, through many struggles, to a ranking of music style that today is considered as artistic in its structure as any formal European classic symphonies. It has become an overwhelming success by being taught in any high school or college/university of any size.
We of Shawano have the Pride of the Midwest, at least, able to rub shoulders with the best jazz orchestra from the Canadian border to New Orleans.
Keep the Shawano Jazz Festival in mind when you’re looking for something to do on March 21 upcoming.
Shazz will be blessed, for the fourth straight year, by the presence of worldwide alto-sax master Eric Marienthal. He loves Sun Drop soda, among other reasons.
Dig it.
Brian K. Semrau,
Shawano
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