ALGONA — Kellen Schmidt was accepted to the 2017 Class 3A Iowa All-State Jazz Band. He was selected as one of only five trombonists for the band statewide. This is Schmidt’s first year participating in the All-State Jazz Band.

Students who auditioned for the All-State Jazz Band submitted a recording of their playing in March and were accepted based on a blind audition process. Accepted students were given music to prepare in advance and then participated in two days of intense rehearsal on May 10-11. A culminating concert was given by the band on May 11 as part of the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference in Des Moines. Acceptance into the Iowa All-State Jazz Band is the highest honor a high school instrumental jazz student can receive in the state of Iowa.