It was another banner year for the jazz program at Pella High School.

Hannah Blom (alto-sax), Annaleigh Babcock (trumpet, pictured above), and Levi Dugger (trumpet) of Pella Jazz I all received individual recognition for their performances at the Iowa Jazz Championships at Iowa State University April 5th as part of the school’s 2nd place finish. The trio tell KNIA/KRLS News they had their best performance of the season in the Class 3A Finals of the prestigious competition, which they say was some of the most fun they’ve ever had on stage.

Jazz rehearsals begin in November for Pella’s elite program that has placed in the top four of the Iowa Jazz Championships for over three and a half decades. Hear more about the Pella Jazz season and some of their music on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.

Click here to listen to the full performance from the 2018 Iowa Jazz Championships.