The Manhattan High School Blue Notes Jazz Band went to Pittsburg State University for the Kansas Jazz Band Contest on March 3. 

Blue Notes director Devin Burr thought the experience would be a fun chance for the group to extend their horizons on jazz music. 

“Mr. Burr heard about [the experience] and thought it would be fun to go,” said Emma Markley, a saxophonist for the Blue Notes.

The band worked hard to prepare for this concert.

“We just chose some of our best songs and pretty heavily worked on those up until the day of the concert,” Markley said.

At the end of their concert, all of the jazz bands from each of the different schools got a special surprise. 

“We got to see Wycliffe Gordon and his band perform later on in the week which was a really cool and informative experience,” Markley said.

This experience was a very special one to the Blue Notes Jazz Band and the other bands involved.

“I love jazz music and this was just a great opportunity to hear more styles of jazz that I haven’t heard before, and to see so many groups coming together and playing was just a really fun experience,” Markley said.