The rich tradition of excellence in jazz continues at Pella High School.

The following students were accepted to the 2022 Class 3A Jazz Educators of Iowa All-State Band:

Eli Ebeling, bari sax (two-time qualifier)
Tyler Mifflin, Lead Trumpet (two-time qualifier)
Dora Roorda, Second Trumpet (two-time qualifier)
Morgan Uitermarkt, Lead Trombone (two-time qualifier)
Penny Shriver, Bass (two-time qualifier)
Jacob Rietveld, Trombone
Ean Stark, Guitar

Ryder Bates-tenor sax, Isaac Boualavong-bass trombone, and Grant Anderson-piano earned alternate status. The All-State Jazz band will perform May 12th at the Iowa Bandmasters Association’s annual conference in the Marriott “Cities Ballroom” of Des Moines.

This comes ahead of their biggest performances of the year at the Iowa Jazz Championships on Tuesday, April 5th at Iowa State University in Ames. Pella Jazz Orchestra opens at 8:30 a.m. and Pella Jazz I starts at 2:15 p.m.

Pella is considered one of the most accomplished jazz programs in state history — since 1979, the school has earned 18 1st place victories at the annual Iowa Jazz Championships. The past two years’ events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Pella Jazz I remains the defending Class 3A champions after winning in 2019.