The WCHS Jazz Band performing on stage at the Lerner Theater during the Elkhart Jazz Festival, June 21, 2014.

The Warsaw Community High School Jazz Band was recently invited to perform at the Elkhart Jazz Festival held during the weekend of June 20-22.

The Elkhart Jazz Festival is one of the premier jazz festivals in the country, drawing audiences of 15,000 or more to the city each year. The WCHS performance also featured guest solo artist Terry Myers, leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Myers, a first-call saxophonist, has performed all over the US, Europe, and Asia with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, Louis Bellson, Butch Miles, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, and many others.

In addition to performing, band members received free passes to all performances for the entire three-day event. This was the second time in three years that the WCHS Jazz Band had been invited to perform at the Elkhart Jazz Festival. The WCHS Jazz Band is directed by Mickey Ratliff.