We all remember that day when the world seemed to stop.  The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been an obstacle during the past three school years. In times like these, we look for things that can bring us together. One of those things? Live music, of course! This year, Trinity’s jazz ensemble is back in full force making sweet music.

While things are continuing to get back to normal, the initial lockdown wasn’t easy for the jazz ensemble. Just like the rest of us, they had to rely on remote lessons and all the struggles that came with being quarantined. 

Music director Mr. Scott Ross spoke of the difficulty maintaining a music program during hybrid learning.

Ross said, “As a music teacher and as a musician, it definitely made things very difficult. I mean, by nature, music is a group effort most of the time. When you’re not able to be in groups, it really shuts things down, and that’s exactly what happened.

“It’s great to be back. We did the best we could last year. Last year, we actually put together video presentations instead of concerts.”

Because the pandemic is not over, the music students continue to follow school protocols. When asked about the change in the jazz ensemble’s routine, Carson Mehlbauer, a jazz ensemble pianist, described how students are spread across the room to ensure safety.

He said, “Luckily, the band room is kind of a big space, so we spread out a lot, especially different instruments such as horns. I play the piano, so I can keep a mask on.”

Jazz ensemble bassist Jackson Barton, explained a change in the typical routine: “Normally they have band and jazz band separate, but this year they combined them, so we have a way bigger group.”

“They’ve done well,” Ross said,  “and actually, this year is going to be one of my largest groups. There seems to be a lot of talent in the group this year. So overall, they’re persevering very well.”

The ensemble is gearing up for concerts later in the year and hoping to finally get back to performing live. The traditional winter and spring concerts are on Ross’s list of things to be ready for this year, if all goes well.

“Usually, the band does a performance at the end of each semester, and that’ll be the case this year. We’ll have a Christmas concert, and then in the springtime, we’ll have a concert of all different genres of music. I have in years past done lunchtime concerts with the band. I’d like to bring that back this year, if conditions allow.”