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Arts & Entertainment

Chantilly High's Jazz and Pizzazz Sizzles

Chantilly High presented its 25th Anniversary Showcase of Chantilly Jazz Band and Show Choir this past weekend.

“I love performing.” said senior Tori Hafner. She described the feeling just before going onstage for the year-end show featuring winning show choir Touch of Class and Jazz Band.

“I think about how much fun it is and how all our hard work will pay off when the show starts.” said Hafner.

That’s music to the ears of Choral Director Glenn Cockrell.  His hope for the student performers of Jazz and Pizzazz is that they will “experience that unique thrill that comes from performing on stage”.

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“They are students, but they are so fully capable, a lot more than they realize.” said Cockrell.

Band Director Drew Ross agrees.  “They understand the tradition of this show. We’ve practiced really all year for this weekend.”

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The bar has been set high for Jazz and Pizzazz, but this year’s students were inspired by the past shows. For each year of Jazz and Pizzazz productions, the current students created displays about that show’s theme and highlights. They also interviewed alumni to get reminiscences of their show. All these displays made up the “Hall of Memories” for the audience to enjoy before the show and during intermission.

In addition, alumni parents Scott Nurmi and Don Watrud (of Mojo Factory Productions)  transferred hundreds of hours of video recordings to DVD for the students to review. Nurmi and Watrud also created a very special video look back at the years to kick off the show.

This 25th anniversary production of Jazz and Pizzazz found a number of alumni returning to the Chantilly stage.  Twenty alumni (representing Classes of 1986 through 2010) musicians have been practicing on the weekends to perform together alongside the current Jazz Band.  Touch of Class alumni will be making appearances at different shows as well.

Ross said a special effort was made to invite alumni to participate in this 25th Anniversary show.

Another special treat was the world-champion indoor drumline taking the stage in the second act. While drumline is not generally considered “jazz”, the directors have successfully highlighted their abilities in a unique number.  “We are glad we could give them a chance to shine” said Ross.

The entire evening was a lively mix of song and dance, with a live soundtrack by the Chantilly Jazz Band. Soloists from the band sounded polished and confident. 

Touch of Class lives up to its reputation as a premier show choir. With thirty costume changes, over two dozen numbers and a set that includes a motorcycle that makes way for a grand piano, Jazz and Pizzazz is an elaborate production. But it was the harmony of voices  and effortless choreography of the performers that the audience took from this show.  They worked together beautifully and allowed each other to shine.

On opening night, Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th district) presented Mr. Cockrell with a framed copy of the House Joint Resolution honoring the Touch of Class program, past and present, for their selection as America’s Favorite Show Choir. It is an honor well-deserved.

Cockrell said he hopes the audience is “entertained and have an experience that exceeds their expectations.” 

For the 25th year, Jazz and Pizzazz does just that. 

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