LUDINGTON — The Ludington High School Jazz Ensemble earned the highest possible rating at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) State Jazz Festival, receiving straight Division I ratings from all four adjudicators.
The festival was held March 18 at Sanford Meridian High School and featured jazz ensembles from across the state.
At the state festival, ensembles are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with Division I representing superior performance. In addition to receiving ratings, each group participates in a professional clinic led by one of the adjudicators, offering feedback and instruction.
Ludington’s performance featured a diverse program, including “Symphony in Riffs” by Benny Carter, “Blue and Sentimental” by Count Basie — which included a tenor saxophone solo by student Joe Kline — and “Feetbone” by Duke Ellington.
Director of Bands Keith Kuczynski credited the students’ work ethic and teamwork for the achievement.
“This rating and recognition is a direct reflection of the students’ dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence,” Kuczynski said. “They have spent countless hours rehearsing, listening and supporting one another. This group is special, not just in their musical ability, but the way they work together as a team.”
Kuczynski said the ensemble’s collaborative approach is key to its success.
“Jazz is about communication and trust, and this ensemble truly embodies that,” he said. “They listen deeply, respond to one another, and bring energy and heart to every single performance.”
Members of the Ludington High School Jazz Ensemble include Amelia Hatch, Annika Sherman, Kasen Carlsen, Joe Kline, Porter Trucks, Gabe Gamez, Karsten Sherman, John Klomp, Katie Gronstal, Ethan Collins, Jackson Wrasse-Hinman, Griffin Jorissen, Luke Kwietniewski, Jasper Sak, Greg Schrader, Olivia Jolly, Matt Hanson, Kendra Kyle, Sawyer Bishop, Walt Autrey, Evan Hansen, Max Juhala and Macy Reiman.
_______________
Please Support Local News and Sports Coverage
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
To sign up, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources. For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.
We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
.png)
