Music Talent Shines Across St. Bernard Parish Public Schools

Musical Talent Shines Across St. Bernard Parish Public Schools  

There is music in the air this holiday season and St. Bernard Parish schools are flourishing with musical talent. Recently, students from Andrew Jackson, Trist and Chalmette High auditioned and were accepted into the 2025 LMEA District Honor Band. The honor band auditions are open to all music students in St. Bernard, Jefferson and New Orleans, including public and private schools, and this year our parish schools provided 10 of the musicians for the annual honor band concerts. Students rehearsed over the course of two days and concluded the weekend with a concert at Tulane University's Dixon Concert Hall. 

The LMEA District Honor Band includes three ensembles; an elementary, junior high and senior high band. The top students from each level of audition are accepted into the prestigious performing groups. Jason Rusk, who leads the Talented Music Program at Chalmette High School, said he was proud of all of the talented musicians who made the cut. “I'm proud of our musicians for their audition preparation and a well-performed concert. It's not an easy task to learn an entire concert program in just two days!”

Rusk was also quick to credit his fellow music teachers, Judy Rockwell at Andrew Jackson and Kenan Jabr at NP Trist Middle for their efforts. “I really appreciate all of their help and expertise in growing our music program, and I would also like to give special congratulation to one of our musicians, Elbin Chavez Escobar, who made 1^st chair alto sax. That’s an amazing accomplishment,” Rusk said. 

Many of these talented musicians also enjoyed a recent excursion to a legendary New Orleans musical venue, attending a concert by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The program called "Kids in the Hall" first began with a tour of Congo Square where students learned the amazing history of the area and how jazz was eventually born in New Orleans. The students then headed over to the Hall for an unforgettable experience as they enjoyed a private performance by members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. 

After the concert, members of the Hall band took students for a masterclass where they worked with the students and showed them some "tricks of the trade", and to end the day with a bang, the students had a jam session. Rusk said from learning history to watching and playing with professionals,  the day was an educational and inspiring one.

“I'm proud of our students for getting up there and performing with some of the great jazz musicians of our time. Not only did we have our CHS students, but Trist was also represented by Lola Schneider and Andrew Jackson by Khyree Jones. I'm thankful for the help from Charles Cassar who added his wealth of knowledge of history to the experience,  Ms. Kim from the CHS cafeteria for making all of our students lunch, to our tour guide,  and finally to the New Orleans Cultural Historian Ms. Desiree Edwards, and the Preservation Hall Society who made this possible for our students.  Thank you for bringing learning and music to life.”