Young musicians from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach recently took home a championship from the National Jazz Festival.
The MCHS Jazz 1 Band won first place in Division L-1–the category for large school bands–in February at the festival in Philadelphia, performing alongside some of the best middle and high school jazz bands, combos, groups and soloists from across the country.
There were 68 ensembles present from 50 schools in 15 different states.
Mira Costa senior trumpeter Ewan McPhee also won the outstanding musician award, one of three musicians at the festival to get the honor. And senior saxophonist Miles McPhee, meanwhile, was selected to be in the events Diplomat All-Star Band.
Mira Costa’s Jazz Band 1 has performed in concerts, festivals and competitions from coast to coast, including recently winning in the President’s Cup National Concert Band Festival hosted by US Army band Pershing’s Own.