The Taylorville High School Jazz Band performed at the 2023 Regional Essentially Ellington Festival on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville on Friday, March 24. Six members of the THS Jazz Band received special recognition for their outstanding performance at the festival: Jay Bliler, piano; Tripp Pelichoff, bass; Lydia Hopkins, drums; Lucas Carnahan, guitar; Rhyker Wicks, trumpet; and Adrian Gonzalez-Mateos, tenor saxophone.

The THS Jazz Band performed Tippin’ On The Q.T. by Buck Clayton, Portrait of Sydney Bechet by Duke Ellington and Check Your Swing by Doug Beach. They received high marks and praise for their performance from clinicians Jason Swagler, Director of Jazz Studies at SIUE, Rick Haydon, professor of jazz emeritus SIUE, and Brett Stamps, former Director of Jazz Studies at SIUE. While at the festival, jazz band members took part in master classes and jam sessions as well as their festival performance. The THS Jazz Band performed with guest artist Garrett Schmidt, professor of jazz studies and trumpet instructor at SIUE at the closing concert Friday night.