High School Jazz Band Students Participate in the 2026 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival
By University Relations Staff
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Nearly 90 students representing four jazz bands from three high schools participated in the 2026 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival on Friday, February 6, 2026, in Heritage Center.
Hosted by UD's Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the festival offered students a day of musical activities including the opportunity for each ensemble to have dedicated clinic time with Christopher Merz, MM, professor of jazz studies at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Clinics were structured to facilitate the free flow of information between the clinician and the ensemble to refine their performance and offer feedback on technique and musicality.
Masterclasses taught by musicians from Jukebox Saturday Night in the area of woodwinds, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm section were also offered. The masterclasses provided high school musicians a specialized learning experience to learn from professional musicians.
The 2026 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival also included a campus tour with UD student ambassadors and a complimentary dinner in the Barbara and Jack Smeltzer Dining Hall, Peters Commons. The festival concluded when participants, who had received complimentary tickets, attended the Jukebox Saturday Night performance that evening in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.
Jazz bands and students listed below participated in the 2026 University of Dubuque Jazz Festival.
Anamosa High School, Anamosa, Iowa - Anamosa Jazz I
- Trever Anderson, Trumpet
- Mitchell Buckley, Trumpet
- Ethan Cleveland, Alto Saxophone
- Andrew Davis, Alto Saxophone
- Alex Henderson, Tuba
- Malachi Herrick, Percussion/Vibes
- Weston Hopkins, Trumpet
- Carter Hudson, Trumpet
- Nelson Huerta-Velaquez, Trumpet
- Wyatt Koranda, Drums
- Gust Ladue, Trumpet
- Hannah Lin, Alto Saxophone
- Olivia Rose, Tenor Saxophone
- Elijah Secrist, Trombone
- Kristofer Sundstrom, Guitar
- Peyton Werling, Electric Bass
- Kayden Wherry, Trombone
- London Winker, Tenor Saxophone
- Audrey Zoller, Baritone Saxophone
Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit, Wisconsin - Jazz Ensemble
- Cali Allen, Guitar
- Phineas Balliet, Stand Up Bass
- Jesus Barrios, Trombone
- Alek Cabrera-Mireles, Trombone
- Kendra Chapman, Tenor Saxophone
- Zaren Dabek, Tenor Saxophone
- Gerald Freeman, Trombone
- Blake Froemming, Trumpet
- Giselle Fuentes-Tello, Alto Saxophone
- Jamie Hayden, Drums
- Lexi Hill, Tenor Saxophone
- Madison Leavy, Trumpet
- Sean Leavy, Drums
- Madyson Marshall, Alto Saxophone
- Hector Martinez, Trumpet
- Aaron Mendoza, Trumpet
- Isaiah Niman, Trombone
- Madeline Ortiz, Trumpet
- Eli Parente-Hallberg, Stand Up Bass
- Tamia Rebout, Piano
- Silvertre Rivera-Tamayo, Trumpet
- Brooklynn VanMarter, Trumpet
- Alysha Weigel, Baritone Saxophone
- Lyric Windham, Piano
- Stefany Zamora, Alto Saxophone
Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit, Wisconsin - Jazz Orchestra
- Karen Arroyo, Alto Saxophone
- Alfredo Bautista, Tenor Saxophone
- Francisco Bolanos-Ramirez, Baritone Saxophone
- Emma Brink, Trumpet
- Samuel Caiola, Piano
- Aaron Carrasco, Drums
- Rilynne Cleland, Alto Saxophone
- Leo Dionne, Trombone
- Aaron Dunkin, Trumpet
- Brooklynn Frost, Trombone
- Colten Fry, Tenor Saxophone
- Xavier Johnson, Trombone
- Evie Karr, Baritone Saxophone
- Lia Koulouri, Stand Up Bass
- Jareth Martinez-Garcia, Trombone
- Brayden Merritt, Trumpet
- Adrean Montano, Trumpet
- Lisa Ramsden, Stand Up Bass
- Nohemi Rodriguez, Trumpet
- Leonard Shaw, Drums
Western Dubuque High School, Epworth, Iowa - Western Dubuque Jazz Band
- Elizabeth Bihl, Trombone
- Seth Boyle, Drums
- Rylyn Brimeyer, Baritone Saxophone
- Ashlee Dale, Alto Saxophone
- Anna Edwards, Trombone
- Molly Gaul, Trombone
- Trinity Goedken, Trumpet
- Ian Hermsen, Trumpet
- Vienna Hill, Tenor Saxophone
- Phoebe Huettman, Flute
- Claire Jaeger, Alto Saxophone
- Evlynn Kass, Piano
- Keenan Klootwyk, Trombone
- Anna Mensen, Clarinet
- Keira Moore, Trumpet
- Declan Mulnix, Electric Bass
- Ella Oberhoffer, Alto Saxophone
- Alex Phillips, Trumpet
- Camrun Werner, Trumpet
- Keagan Winkelman, Tenor Saxophone
