Kennedy High student wins corridor jazz art contest

Jan. 17, 2023 6:00 am

McKenzie Hitzel, a junior at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, has been chosen as the winner of the 2023 Corridor Jazz Project Art design.

Hitzel’s design will be the cover of the “The Corridor Jazz Project XVI,” a compilation of recordings from the top jazz bands from area high schools, including Jefferson, Kennedy, Prairie, Xavier and Washington high schools in Cedar Rapids; Linn-Mar and Marion high schools in Marion; City High and West High schools in Iowa City; and Anamosa, Center-Point Urbana, Clear Creek-Amana, Liberty, Lisbon, Mid-Prairie, Solon, and West Branch high schools

Receiving Honorable Mention in the contest were:

Kassy Conway, North Linn
Meg Düster, Solon
Wyatt Hyde, Mount Vernon
Chloe Flender, CR Kennedy
Kayleigh Jordon, Mount Vernon
Kaci Miller, CR Kennedy
Kylie Pyatt, Mount Vernon (2 entries)
Cora Smith, Mt. Vernson

McKenzie’s original piece and those receiving Honorable Mention will all be exhibited during the Corridor Jazz Project concert, March 7, at the Paramount Theatre, 123 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids.

The Corridor Jazz Project is a jazz education and mentoring program for jazz band students in Eastern Iowa. The program matches each high school’s top jazz band with a professional jazz player, who performs as a guest soloist with the band. The recordings have been collected and will be released as a downloadable album or CD.

Support for the Corridor Jazz Project comes from MidWestOne Bank, Orchestra Iowa, Hills Bank, Orchestra Iowa, and West Music.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com