Schools

Three St. Louis Park Students Named to All-State Jazz Band

The three students will rehearse at McNally Smith College of Music this month with other members of the All-State Jazz Band.

St. Louis Park High School students Marco Giovannelli, Ben Klepfer, and Elliott Rickert have all been named to the All-State Jazz Band. Giovannelli, a sophomore, plays piano; Klepfer, a sophomore, plays trumpet; and Rickert, a freshman, plays trumpet.

The three students will rehearse at McNally Smith College of Music during the month of January with other members of the All-State Jazz Band, and will then perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Midwinter Clinic in Minneapolis in mid-February.

The MMEA All-State program is designed to develop the finest musicians and leaders among Minnesota’s most accomplished high school students, according to a news release.

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“Auditioning into the All-State Band program is akin to going to state for football or volleyball,” said Steve Schmitz, Director of Bands and World Drumming at the High School, in a statement. “Most years, at best, we have had one student selected for the program. This year, despite being a medium-sized program with a modest budget, I am extremely proud that Marco, Ben, and Elliott will represent Park at the MMEA convention.”

Image via Shutterstock

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