Profile: Local Jazz Band Gives High School Musicians a Bigger Stage
The Longmont All-Star Jazz Band brings together advanced high school musicians from across the Boulder County area for a year-round supplementary ensemble focused on fun, community-driven performances, masterclasses, and educational opportunities.
Founded in 2001, the program operates outside traditional school music classes, offering students an opportunity to develop improvisation, ensemble skills, and performance experience in a setting that closely resembles collegiate and professional jazz environments while performing and engaging within their community.
The band is composed of high school students who already participate in their school music programs but seek additional performing and educational opportunities in jazz. Selection into the band is determined through auditions, and once selected, students are expected to meet a higher level of musical and professional responsibility.
The Longmont All-Star Jazz Band “ensemble is designed to complement school programs by giving students a chance to work at an even higher level of independence and musical rigor. This gives them more chances for leadership opportunities within their schools music program while diving deeper into a truly unique American artform.”
~Director, Gavin Worland
Transitioning Beyond the Classroom
While school jazz bands emphasize fundamentals and structured instruction, LASJB places a greater emphasis on student accountability and developing strong peer-to-peer collaboration.
Rehearsals are designed to mirror professional expectations, with students responsible for preparation, listening across sections, and responding to musical cues in real time. This practice of sight reading, improvising, and performing translates back to the students’ schools’ music program helping continue to add to the music education sector of our community.
Emphasis on Improvisation and Ensemble Skills
Improvisation is a central component of the band’s work. This is one of the most daunting and most unfamiliar areas to a developing high school musician, so the program provides opportunities for students to regularly study jazz theory and history, while encouraging them to develop their own individual musical voices within the ensembles.
Band directors note that this process helps students build confidence and adaptability.
“This is a space for students to explore, learn more, and dig even deeper the more passionate they become for this music,” Worland explains.
Performing in Community Venues
The Longmont All-Star Jazz Band performs regularly at established venues and community events, such as Nissi’s, Dickens Opera House, and the Longmont Performing Arts Center. This places students in front of public audiences beyond school concerts and gives them exposure to professional responsibilities, including stage presence and adapting to different performance spaces.
Role in the Local Arts Community
The band operates with support from local venues, families, and community partners who see value in maintaining a high-level youth jazz ensemble in Longmont. By keeping the tuition as affordable as possible for families, sponsors, and partners help contribute and offset those costs for families. The All-Stars also pride themselves on helping bring a bigger spotlight to the local music scene in Boulder County.
Student Perspective: Performing and Growing in Confidence
Q&A with Student Brock Richardson, Sophomore — Mead High School (Saxophone)
What’s it like performing in professional venues or community settings?
Playing for large professional venues such as Nissi’s is definitely a big step up from school band, and it personally makes the music I’m playing feel more special because it’s only at the performance that I can see how many people show up to hear us play. It makes me feel like truly giving my all and then some.
How has being part of this band affected your confidence?
Being a part of the All-Stars has given me a lot more opportunities not only to play new music and keep getting better, but also to build my confidence on my instrument as an improviser and through experience. Every performance is reflected in my playing as I keep getting more comfortable with more professional settings.
Has this experience influenced your plans after high school?
My experience as a member of the Longmont All-Stars has only made me want to continue playing and performing more, and it really solidifies that music will play a huge part in the rest of my life even after I graduate from high school.
What would you tell another student who’s considering auditioning?
For anyone considering auditioning for All Stars, I would highly recommend it, because at the end of the day it is just an audition. No matter the result, it only makes you more comfortable and experienced as a musician. The All-Stars are totally worth the time commitment, as it is probably one of the best playing opportunities you will have, as a young musician within the Boulder County area.
Band Director’s Perspective
Q&A with Band director Gavin Worland
Educational and Long-Term Impact
The impact and lasting legacy of being a member of the All-Stars extends far beyond just playing music. It is a fun opportunity for students to meet other passionate students in the area, while developing interpersonal skills, time management and much more!
We provide a high-quality experience for students to be able to play professional-level music with rehearsals, masterclasses, sectionals, and classes from our faculty to help provide knowledge of jazz history, theory, and appreciation they might not usually get the opportunity to in their day-to-day band programs.
What Students Should Know Before Auditioning
Joining the All-Stars is more than just another music program after school. We are committed to a high-quality experience for our local high school students to learn and perform more without taking away from a student’s busy life in high school.
The All-Stars play traditional swing/ big band jazz, but play a diverse variety of styles and sub genres within big band literature too. Colorado has a rich history with jazz music and is currently home to some of the best in the world in this artform.
We bridge the gap for the students and give them opportunities to meet and learn from them, while inspiring them to continue learning and loving this music.
Looking Ahead
As the Longmont All-Star Jazz Band continues to recruit new students, perform throughout the year, and expand their reach, the focus remains on preparing students for any future academic and musical pursuits.
“No matter if a student wants to pursue a career in music or not, we want to give them the tools to succeed and let the love of music carry them where they want to go.
The organization looks forward to expanding the reach of the organization to include more recording sessions, small ensembles, additional masterclasses for students, and more collaborative concerts with other local bands.
“Our goal is to prepare students within our community for whatever path they choose next, while deepening their love and appreciation for jazz music. We know that we can help our students prepare for a life in music whether it’s as a full-time career or for fun while pursuing other areas of study.”
How to Learn More
More information about performances, auditions, and volunteer opportunities are available at www.lasjb.org or follow the All-Stars on Instagram @lasjb.