OPRF Jazz Ensemble Takes Top Honors

From Oak Park-River Forest High School:

The Oak Park and River Forest High School Jazz Ensemble won first place and honor band status at the Purdue University Jazz Festival this past weekend!  This is the first time OPRF has competed in this prestigious event, competing against more than 20 high schools from across the Midwest including Bloomington, Beliot, Champaign, Downers Grove, Hersey, Lincoln Way and many more.  In addition. three OPRF students received individual recognition as outstanding soloists: Jonah Philion on Alto Sax, Jonathan Cunningham on Tenor Sax, and Jesse Raney on Guitar. 

It isn't often you hear a judge – a tenor sax pro from the Chicago area -- say, "This was a highlight of my day, as well as in the history of the festival in my 15 years of judging."  

OPRF congratulates the following members:

Alto Sax - Jonah Philion, Kentaro Sugimoto; Tenor Sax - Jonathan Cunningham, Luke Firpo; Baritone Sax - Maggie Rothberger; Trumpets - Cody Stocker, John Martin, Nate Marcus, Jordan  Dubin; Trombones - Nick Fascione, Alex Stocker, Collin Pearce, Forrest Jackson; Bass - Eigen Aoki, John Boyle; Guitar - Jesse Raney, Louis Blankemeier; Set - Zach Batteiger, Jonah Lazarus; Piano- Max Degenova, Evan Thompson.