The UW-Madison Jazz Big Band will join Onalaska High School’s Jazz Ensemble for an evening of jazz on Sunday, April 27.

The schedule for the day includes a clinic starting at 4 p.m. with UW students working with OHS musicians, followed by a public concert by both groups at 7:30 p.m. in the Onalaska High School’s Claude C. Deck Performing Arts Center.

Admission to the evening performance is free but donations will be accepted.

The UW group is directed by Jim Doherty and includes 18 student musicians who are a mixture of music and nonmusic majors. This auditioned group meets two hours twice a week and is a one-credit class.

They have nine concerts this semester, including their tour of the state with stops centered on the hometowns of the students in the jazz band.

Brian McCarthy, a 2007 Onalaska High School graduate, is a freshman engineering student who plays lead trombone for the band.

The UW Big Band will stay overnight in Onalaska before departing for Ellsworth, Wis., for a concert the next day.

This year has been a stellar one for the OHS Jazz Band. In addition to being invited by the governor to perform in March at the Capitol in Madison, the group placed first at the UW-Platteville Jazz Competition, received a superior rating at the district solo and ensemble competition and will be performing in May at the state solo and ensemble competition.