Jazz at PBL Jr. High
PBL Jr. High has two jazz bands consisting of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who generally number approximately 24 per band. Students audition for the bands. Each group rehearses twice per week in the morning before school for 40 minutes per rehearsal. Occasionally the bands meet in the evenings for extra rehearsals as needed. These two Jr. High jazz bands have placed well in numerous jazz festivals earning multiple awards including the Herscher Sing and Swing, Jazz in the Meadows, the Eastern Illinois University jazz festival, the Millikin jazz festival, Sullivan, Danville, Western Illinois Jazz festival and the University of Illinois past jazz festivals. The bands have earned consistent division 1 superior ratings at the annual I.E.S.A. organization contest for over three decades. Members of the bands have also consistently earned positions in the Illinois Music Educator's annual All-District honor's jazz band. In the spring of 2014, the PBL Jazz Band #1 was named the Best Band of Day at the annual state IESA Music Organizational Contest.