Two Harbors jazz combo featured on CD

• Two Harbors High School Jazz Combo Band

The Two Harbors High School jazz combo band performs a song in class this week. They will be featured in the upcoming CD “A Christmas by the Lake Volume III,” a fund-raiser for the Northern Lights Foundation. Matt Suoja

Talk about it

Some of their peers may make fun of them by calling them “band geeks,” but guess who’s got the record deal?

The Two Harbors High School jazz combo group, which consists of five seniors and a freshman, are featured on a holiday CD released Thursday.

The CD, “A Christmas by the Lake Volume III” features various regional artists and is created as a benefit for the Northern Lights Foundation.

Jan MacDonald, the Two Harbors band teacher, said an invitation was put out to various artists in the area and they decided, for the first time, to give it a run. Sure enough, they were one of the groups selected.

“They were really excited and so were their families … and school,” she said.

Many of the musicians said they plan on having something to do with music after high school, including senior Iliya Hoffert, who wants to major in music education, and senior Tessa Highmark, who’s looking at majoring in piano. Senior Amber Fletcher wants to look more into rock music.

“There’s a tradition of having a lot of talented families … with high expectations,” MacDonald said.

“We play at all the social events,” said senior Ben Jussila.

Senior Nicole Purrier said it may have bothered her in the past if students made fun of her but she’s matured. Being called “band geeks” is an amusement.

“We just don’t care anymore,” Hoffert said.

The foundation the CD supports “provides funds to families of children with life-threatening or debilitating conditions. The money can be used to help with medical costs, travel costs, or as needed by the family.”

“Northern Lights Foundation is a wonderful organization doing great things in the area for families of children with life threatening illnesses,” said Tracy Lundeen, the album producer.

The CD will be available at Super One Foods locations throughout the region through the holidays.

If you go

Jazz band

- If you are reading this on Thursday, there is free “A Christmas by the Lake Volume III” release party tonight at the historic Greysolon Plaza Moorish Room. Doors open at 6 p.m. CDs will be available for $12. The Two Harbors jazz combo is not scheduled to perform.

Tags: two harbors, news, band, schools