On Feb. 7 the Jazz Band will be playing with the Bel Air Community Jazz Band in a fundraiser called Cool Jazz. The funds raised will help renovate the Performing Arts Wing.

“[The goal] is to raise money for the Performing Arts Wing to get air conditioning,” Music Director Marc Bolden said. “In general, renovations need to be done.”

Some of these renovations include lockers for the band students to store their instruments and music.

The tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for those 18 years old and younger. Bolden’s goal is to sell out, an objective that requires selling at least 600 tickets.

In addition to the concert, there will be a silent auction and a raffle. The event will start at 5:30 p.m., with the concert starting at 7 p.m.

Both ensembles will play numbers individually, but the majority of the numbers will be played by the combined ensemble. There will be solo performances by members of both ensembles. Students will sit next to the members of Bel Air ensemble who play the same instrument.

For some numbers, Bolden will be playing in the ensemble and Scott Sharnetzka, Director of the Bel Air Jazz Band, will conduct.

According to Bolden, this switch in conductors will help the students learn new things.

On Jan. 16 the two bands met for the first time at Harford Community College to practice the songs that they will play together. After this meeting Bolden will continue to practice with the Jazz Band after school.

“This is the first time that Jazz Band is a graded class,” Bolden said. “It allows us to fully prepare for these events.”

Jazz Band members are excited for both the event itself and the renovations that will follow.

“I think it’s good that we’re branching out and connecting with the Bel Air community,” senior Austin Kiss said. “It’ll be nice to be mentored by more experienced players.”

“[Cool Jazz] is a good way for us to raise money for something that we really need,” junior Megan Piercy said. “[The heat] is absolutely miserable all the time, even now.”

According to Bolden, this event will showcase the students as performers and JC’s musical talent. “It’s great all around,” Bolden said.

President Richard O’Hara has noticed the efforts of Bolden and the Jazz Band in the preparation for Cool Jazz, but also throughout this year as a whole.

“They’re good and they’re devoting a lot of time,” O’Hara said. “They’re spirited, and they’re contributing to a very successful season.”

The event is receiving great publicity from the Bel Air community. A poster and website have been made for the event, and a billboard advertising the event will be posted outside the school.

“[Sharnetzka] and I are doing a radio interview at HCC. The Aegis will be coming in at some point as well,” Bolden said.

The wide publicity and the combination with the Bel Air ensemble offers the Jazz Band the opportunity to showcase their talent to a wider audience.

While Bolden appreciated fundraising opportunity that Cool Jazz offers, he believes that part of what is so great about the fundraiser is the opportunity for the Jazz Band to get more experience.

“It’s nice playing in front of a different audience,” Bolden said. “Any time they get to play with professional or semi-professional [musicians] will push them to [improve] or continue in college.”

Angela DeCarlo is the Stories Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.