On Sunday, February 21, 2009, at 2:00PM, the best of the best Jazz musicians from Harford County Public Schools performed at Patterson Mill for the All County Jazz festivities.

  19 students from around the county make up the band and another 20 students are in the choir. Three students represented NHHS at this event.  Senior Robby Bowen and junior James Greene were selected to the All County Jazz band and Senior Audrey Greene to the All County Jazz Choir.  Generally at least one student from every school in Harford County participates in the All County Jazz event.

    J. Greene, who played trumpet for All County Jazz band, said, “I love performing, especially when I get a good crowd.”   The concert was free and there were close to a 100 people there.

             The band performed 6 songs, including Trofeo de Bolos, Cantaloupe Island, Jumpin’ at the Woodside (Native to North Harford High School), Pick up the pieces (played at North Harford High School football games), and Back Bone and Harlem Nocturne, and all of the pieces were directed by Tom Harrison, from Washington Middle School located in Cumberland, Maryland.

    To be in All County Jazz band there is an audition process. According to J. Greene, “It helps if you take private lessons like myself.” All the auditions were held at Bel Air High School.

     Being selected to All County Jazz Band and Choir required a commitment of time. The students have one evening rehearsal from 7PM to 9PM, followed by an all day practice.

         J. Greene said, “It’s so much fun because you get to meet so many different people. Out of school I’ve played with people that are with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In fact, at our church, the music director is the director of the Performing Arts at Anne Arundel Community College.”

        A. Greene said, “This was the first time I’d sung vocal jazz, if I was given the opportunity to do it again, I definitely would since it’s so different from the classical and modern music I’m used to.”