Until Monday’s Evening of Holiday Jazz, Micah Peterson’s singing voice was confined to around her house, in her car and occasionally within an intimate group on Sunday mornings.
“I sing a lot to myself, like in the shower, and sometimes I’ll sing at church, but it’s a really small church,” said the senior.
But encouraged by student teacher Anya Menk, Peterson (above) let it rip to a packed school commons where, accompanied by the 19-member Holiday Jazz band, she confidently belted out “Jingle Bell Rock.”
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
“I had a lesson with Miss Menk,” Peterson explained. “We were practicing bass piano, and she started singing along with it, and I complimented her voice. I said, ‘You have a nice voice,’ because she does. And she said, ‘You know this is a good way to learn piano: to sing along.’ She asked if I wanted to try, and I said, ‘sure,’ and she said ‘You have a great voice. You should sing for the Holiday Jazz.’”
Saving the best for last, Peterson and the band, directed by Erik Hermanson and Menk too, closed out the festive evening.
Through the collaboration of the Culinary Arts class and the band program, an Evening of Holiday Jazz, the second annual, was a Christmastime feast not only for the ears but for the taste buds as well as students from school head chef Monica Manzey’s Culinary Arts class served an appetizing assortment of hors d’oeuvres and desserts throughout the evening.
“I am so impressed with what the kids learn and what they can do,” said organizer Peggy Peterson, mother of Micah.
The free-will donations that came from the 160 or so who attended will be stuffed into the Christmas stockings of the Culinary Arts and band programs and, through the Dollars for Scholars program, eventually into those of 2023 Cleveland seniors.
“Last year we raised almost a thousand, so we hope to go more than that,” Peterson said.
The idea for an Evening of Holiday Jazz came over a year ago to Dollars for Scholars committee members Peterson and Lisa Alitz. Other members of the Dollars for Scholars Committee this year are Rhonda Omtvedt, Jasmin Boelter, Connie Ryan and Natalie Hoheisel.
Other songs played by Holiday Jazz were “Santa’s in Town, “Who Let the Elves Out,” “Sugar Plum Swing,” “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” “Jingle All the Way” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
The Holiday Jazz Band included Jersie Kelley, Alanna Hartman, Laci Hollerich and Peterson on trumpets; Connor Urban and Hailey Plonsky on alto saxophones; Sophie Shouler and Katie Cink on tenor saxophones; Amelia Tauer, Nathan Schmoll, Lilly Draheim and Jack Schloesser on trombones; Jack Voit and Jacob Rohlfing on baritone saxophones; Henry Strobel and Ellie Dylla on percussion; Samantha Wondra on clarinet, Vivian Helfer on keyboard and Marty Gibbs on bass guitar.
“You are looking at an elite group of students, athletes, scholars…they’re in everything,” Hermanson said. “If FFA is gone these people are gone. If you want to know the handful of students who take college classes, they are here. We have so many great kids, but they are just a terrific snapshot, so anything you did to contribute to this, this is what we have to show you back for it, so thank you so much.”
Students in the Culinary Arts class who helped with the event included Gavin Selly, Aaliyah Bauer, Mya Dent, Brianna Hollerich, Jordan Schmidt, Voit, Jonathan Biehn, Brooke Borgardts, Lauren Krohn, Ellie Esser, Cayden Schmidt, Joanna Larson, Jacquelyn Persell, Samantha Steiner, Tauer, Urban and Madix Lutterman.
Cooks Nina Williams and Lisa Beshman assisted with food preparation and serving.
In the second of five gigs this season, Holiday Jazz will be back in the commons this Saturday at 10:30 am during the FFA craft fair. The group will also play at River Hills Mall in Mankato on December 19 at 11:00 am, in the gym on December 20 at 6:30 pm for a boys basketball game and during the elementary winter concert at 1:00 pm on December 21.
Madix Lutterman, Jordan Schmidt and Gavin Selly served Swedish steamed rice, chicken skewers and spinach dip.
Ellie Esser and Lauren Krohn at the cookie and candy table.
Samantha Steiner sets out a dish of mini cheesecakes. In the back is Aaliyah Bauer.
Aaliyah Bauer, Brooke Borgardts and Samantha Steiner at the fruit and confectionary table.
Peggy Peterson welcomed the crowd.
Holiday Jazz members clashed orange blazers with red Santa Claus lids.
Jack Schloesser on the trombone.
Jersie Kelley and Alanna Hartman on trumpet.
Erik Hermanson squeezed his trombone between the trumpets when Anya Menk was directing.
After the concert, it was time for a selfie.
Holiday Jazz poses for a photo. It includes, from L-R, director Erik Hermanson, Micah Peterson, Martin Gibbs, Henry Strobel, Amelia Tauer, Vivian Hilfer, Lillly Draheim, Nathan Schmoll, Alanna Hartman, Sophie Shouler, Jack Schloesser, Katie Cink, Samantha Wondra, Jacob Rohlfing, Jersie Kelley, Jack Voit, Laci Hollerich, Ellie Dylla, Connor Urban, Hailey Plonsky and Anya Menk.
Sophie Shouler on the tenor sax solo.