Along with scoring a first place finish at the North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association District Jazz Band Festival in Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom, the group also was third at the Indianola Jazz Encounter in Indianola. Kara McGonegle received an Outstanding Solo Performance award.

“Stressful,” said St. Edmond Director of Bands Ryan Swedean. “We did two all-day competitions in three days with lots of early mornings and late nights.”

Swedean, though, noted that “it was nice that our set was the same at both competitions.”

In Clear Lake at the NCIBA event, St. Edmond competed alongside Class 1A and 3A schools.

The season is far from complete for the Gaels, as they also took part in the Coe College Jazz Summit and have the Iowa Jazz Championships scheduled for April 4 in Ames. The final performance of the year will take place May 7 and will be their Coffeehouse Concert.

“I love working with students who want to get better every day,” Swedean said. “Early on in the year, we set the expectation that whatever places we get for competition doesn’t matter as long as we are getting better.

“I love seeing students work with other master teachers and have them learn things. I’ll admit, selfishly, that I like those clinics because I often learn things too.”