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I recently attended the jazz concert at Onalaska High School Performing Arts Center. I have been helping out over there, and was asked to give the singer a couple of tips.

Well, the talent in our school is boundless, and the teachers of the middle school big band and the high school jazz band skillfully led the talented students through two short but wonderful concerts.

And I must say that lovely Katy Hoppens knocked the crowd out with her vocals. She performed “Just Friends” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow” beautifully.

Knutson’s hot jazz band performed a varied list of jazz songs that included the works of Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, George Gershwin, Bill Chase and Johnny Mercer.

A special guest, Tom Brown on trumpet, wowed the audience with his solos when he joined the OHS jazz bands on the final two songs.

Corey Groves’ middle school band played some Duke Ellington, Burt Bacharach and Walter Murphy.

If you weren’t there to hear it, you missed a terrific concert. Both bands were a treat to hear and see. Kudos to those music teachers, Jim Knutson and Corey Groves.