Photo courtesy of Greene County Vocal Department

The Greene County High School Vocal Jazz ensemble is performing today at North Polk High School.

Director David Heupel says the end of January and February is a busy time for the students in Ram Jive. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio, the Iowa High School Music Association State Festival was at the end of January at West Des Moines Valley High School, today is a competition at North Polk and next week they finish up at Spirit Lake High School. Heupel points out that simultaneously, he is also rehearsing with students for the spring musical that happens the first weekend in March. 

He explains that he feels comfortable going to familiar places such as North Polk and Spirit Lake, because it is convenient for everyone’s schedules, along with another reason.

“Mid to late February, you get into later February, there’s a lot of schools looking for a festival and there’s not a lot in central Iowa. So next weekend when we go to Spirit Lake, it’s either you kind of go way northwest or go way east, because we’ve gone to Cedar Rapids before. But yeah, just that it works out for what we’re looking for.”  

Heupel adds that he is looking forward to these last two competitions for this younger ensemble to continue to improve and get better. He says they also submitted their recording to be considered for the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships from March 31-April 1, which they will host this year.