Sioux City North High
School has earned a reputation as one of the finest instrumental music
programs in the state of Iowa. Under the direction of retired band
director Larry Kisor, North High Jazz I has won the Iowa 4A Jazz
Championships twelve times with six second place finishes – a record
unmatched in the history of the event. The band was also selected to
play in New York City at the 2006 Essentially Ellington youth jazz
program. That is the highest honor that a high school jazz band can
achieve. Other jazz band achievements include: playing at the Montreux
Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the IAJE Convention, and at the Midwest
Music Convention in Chicago.
The North High Jazz studies program includes two jazz bands. Auditions
are held in the fall and students begin rehearsing after the conclusion
of the marching band season. Jazz I and Jazz Too both rehearse daily
from 6:30 to 7:50 AM. Jazz I may also rehearse on selected Saturdays.
The jazz bands perform at school concerts, a jazz concert, and compete
in a variety of jazz festivals. They may also perform at a variety of
community events. Jazz I is under the direction of Kevin Massey, with
Jazz Too under the direction of Mark Henderson.
Click here for Jazz Band Schedule
of Events