03/03/2008 - Jazz Ensemble Wins National Audition to Perform at Lincoln Center, Work with Professional Jazz Musicians

With students thinking that the assembled district personnel and media were gathered in the music room as part of a documentary about band teacher, Rueben Cooper, the band director, lifted his hands to begin rehearsing an upbeat jazz number. On Tuesday, March 4th, Cooper pulled off a great surprise on his 6th period jazz ensemble.

The media had assembled along with principal Lindsey Hall; Becky McCabe, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Board of Education member Andy Small, in order to be present when Cooper sprang his surprise on the students. After rehearsing for a minute or so, Cooper stopped the students and indicated he had something to say. As he paused, students looked at each other with quizzical expressions, obviously wondering what was coming.

With a knowing smile at the corner of his mouth, Cooper began to explain that the DeKalb High School had been chosen as one of only 15 high school jazz groups nationally to be chosen to travel to New York to work with Wynton Marsalis and other jazz professionals, in addition to performing at the famed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The students seemed frozen in time for a few seconds, then leapt out of their chairs, whooping, slapping each other on the back, giving hugs all around, once the realization of the announcement sank in. As the cameras flashed, the students continued celebrating for a few moments until Cooper brought them back together to begin planning for the trip.

"This is something we have worked hard for years to accomplish," said Cooper. "These kids deserve this. They have worked very hard."

"We could not be more proud of our students," added Lindsey Hall. "Reuben Cooper has brought this program so far since arriving here. This has happened because of his dedication and the hard work of our students. This is very exciting," she said.