JACKSON, MI – Memories aren’t all that Jackson High School musicians brought back with them from a holiday trip to Florida.
The school’s marching and concert bands brought home trophies from their performances at the 2019 Outback Bowl and Brightspark National Festival in Tampa, Fla.
In all 93 students participated in the events.
The marching band, which received a third-place trophy in Division III at a New Year’s Eve Festival parade and competition, was one of 13 bands, representing 10 states, performing in the Outback Bowl halftime show on Jan. 1.
At the Brightspark National Festival, which is associated with the Outback Bowl, the concert band received a first-place trophy in Division III and the Grand Champion Trophy as the top concert band from all divisions.
The JHS marching band is a volunteer band that rehearses outside of the school day. Members of the concert band on this trip came from four different JHS bands and percussion ensemble. Joel Shaner is the JHS music teacher and band director.
While on the trip, students also went to Busch Gardens, St. Petersburg Beach and Universal Studios in Orlando.