Over the weekend, the NDA jazz band participated in the annual UWGB Jazz Festival with guest musician John LaBarbera.

The day included performing on the Weidner Center stage in the morning, listening to other groups perform, a Q&A with John LaBarbera and working with experienced professionals in the afternoon. 

“It is always a great opportunity to get to spend a day with people you enjoy spending time with and make some music together,” said senior member of the jazz band Dominic D’Angelo.

This is the third jazz festival the band has attended this year. Earlier  they were at Lawrence University and UW-Stevens Point.

“I think this one has a bit of special meaning to Mr. Johnson in particular because it’s a chance to bring some of his current students to his alma mater,” said  D’Angelo.

The band played a song called “Sabor De Cuba” in front of clinician John Daniel. After the performance, Daniel offered some feedback and positive reinforcement for the group. 

“This is a challenging song, and for only having it for a week, it sounds really good,” said Daniel. 

The afternoon was headlined by getting to listen to famous composer John LaBarbera. He took questions from students for an hour and was greatly impressed with the number and quality of questions the students had for him.

LaBarbera was there as the guest performer for the evening concert with the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra. NDA band director Mr. Johnson was among those performing in the band.

It was a great day, a great concert that night, and a great way to conclude the 2024-25 jazz band year. The jazz band will perform one more time at the upcoming spring concert in a few weeks, but this will be the last jazz festival they will ever attend in their current form.