5 students selected for IWU Honor Jazz Band

Ironmen join top high school performers in two-day clinic, concert

Maddie Lane, Ania Gwarda and I’Aria Blackmon

Apr 21, 2025

Image Courtesty of: Illinois Wesleyan

Five students from Community were selected to participate in Illinois Wesleyan University’s second annual Honor Jazz Band, joining approximately 30 of the state’s top high school musicians for a two-day clinic and concert event hosted by IWU’s School of Music.

Sophomores Jake Piotrowski, Joe Morris and Colin McCarthy along with juniors Caleb Myers and Elizabeth Forrest, were recommended by band director Mr. Paul Carter for the program, which took place March 28–29 and culminated in a performance at Westbrook Auditorium.

The event, designed to “showcase the exceptional talent of young musicians in the region,” included intensive rehearsals, improvisation clinics and jazz theory workshops led by Dr. Reginald Lewis of IWU and guest conductor Dr. Matthew Storie of University of Nebraska-Omaha.

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