High school musicians get a chance to play with the pros

WASILLA — Zack Wise kind of waffles when asked if he’s excited to be one of three Wasilla High School students picked to play with the Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band next week.

Yes, he says immediately, he is excited. But, as a high school student…

“You don’t ever really play with actual musicians,” he said. “You never, like, play in a band.”

So he’s excited, but also nervous.

Not to make it worse for him, but at least according to the Field Band, these are no ordinary musicians.

“When you come to see a Field Band performance, not only will you be entertained, not only will you see the excellence that the Army has to offer, but you will also be seeing some of the best musicians that the United States has to offer,” said Jonathan Agee, spokesman for the band.

Seriously? Best in the nation?

“There is a very competitive audition process to join,” Agee said. “Many of our members have taught in universities or schools.”

Many of them have master’s degrees in music. Some even have doctorates. So yeah, best in the U.S. might be an apt description.

Wise, a senior, plays trumpet. Playing with him Sept. 19 will be senior trombonist Hope Spargo and junior alto saxophonist Josiah Kahula. That mix of excitement and nerves isn’t exclusive to Wise. Kahula said he feels it, too.

“I’m really excited. I’ve just got to learn the music. I don’t want to let anyone down,” Kahula said.

He said he plays lead alto in the jazz band and his teacher asked if he wanted to play with the Field Band. That’s actually how it happened for all three of them — a teacher asked.

Spargo’s reaction to being asked? As she recalled it was: “Yeah, that sounds awesome!”

She’s been playing for eight years and is clearly elated at the chance to play with such skilled musicians.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” she said.

Wise said it was the skill of the Field Band musicians that makes the opportunity a good one.

“I figured they’re pretty good, I can learn something from them,” he said.

Spargo said that the piece they’re playing — “April in Paris” — isn’t unfamiliar to her, but is “up there” in terms of its difficulty.

Agee, the Field Band spokesman, said that involving students in performances is something the Field Band tries to do whenever it can.

“Educational outreach is a huge thing that we do here at the Field Band and anytime we can involve students, especially top-level students that are going to go on to do great things, we try to do it,” he said. “I think it is an honor for us and to them, so we do try to do that as much as possible.”

The school’s ROTC program, an Air Force program new this year, will help set up and tear down for the event, said Scott Magnan, one of two retired airmen running the program.

Agee said the Wasilla gig is one of many planned for the band’s mini-tour of Alaska. The band will also be in Seward, Kenai and Fairbanks, playing four concerts and holding two educational assemblies and five educational clinics.

He said this is the first time the Jazz Ambassadors have played in Wasilla. Anyone who comes to the free concert should expect a fun night, he said.

“They play a wide variety of music, but they do it with jazz in mind and the big-band mindset,” Agee said. “Classic jazz to modern jazz and all performed by the best musicians in the world.”

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

What: Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band live in concert

Where: Wasilla High School

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 19

Cost: Free. Get tickets at Wasilla High School, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman or online at armyfieldband.com