Rossville musicians audition for All-State Jazz Band
Comet staff report

RHS musicians Recent Rossville High School graduates Nick Golder, Adam Eikenberry and Anthony Leahy auditioned for the Indiana Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Band. They are pictured with their band director Scott Abbott, left. Photo provided

Three Rossville High School musicians recently performed in Indianapolis at the Indiana Music Educators Association State Convention with the All- State Jazz Band.

RHS 2007 graduates Nick Golder, bassist; Adam Eikenberry, drummer; and Anthony Leahy, trombonist, auditioned with students from all over the state for three chairs in an 18- piece member band. The audition required students to play assigned music, sight read, and jazz improvisation.

During the intensive two-day rehearsal, students were directed by guest conductor, Tom Coffman of DePaul University, Chicago. Coffman is also a professional trombonist, and has performed with Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, and others.

Scott Abbott has directed the RHS Jazz Band for the past four years. He led his band to three Division I gold medals at the ISSMA Jazz Contest last March.

The RHS Jazz Band has traveled all over Indiana and Michigan to perform in jazz band competitions. Last year the band received the Outstanding Jazz Band Award for a small school division at the Purdue Jazz Festival and Golder, Eikenberry and Leahy received outstanding soloist awards as well.

This fall, Golder will study music at Anderson College; Eikenberry will study music at Berklee in Boston; and Anthony Leahy will audition for the Purdue Jazz Band, where he will major in computer technology.