Pleasant Grove ISD Jazz Students Fill Over Half the Chairs in the All-Region Jazz Band

On September 16, 2023, Texarkana’s Pleasant Grove ISD Jazz Band competed in the All-Region Jazz Band tryouts. Over 80 students participated, striving to secure one of the 20 spots available on the All-Region Jazz Band roster. PG is proud to congratulate the 11 students who were selected from the regional competition. Nine of these young musicians will advance to the All-Area Jazz Band in October. 
 
Founding member of the PG jazz program in 2019 and current Jazz Band Director, Ed Grissom, praised the school district for making “jazz education a priority for our kids — the students’ selection demonstrates the growth and success of the jazz program.”
 
With plans to organize the current 36 musicians into two complete bands, Grissom said “PG is becoming known as the ‘jazz school’ of the area. We are increasingly being invited to perform at community functions, and a few of the students are forming bands of their own.” Texarkana is honored by the continued success of 10 former students of the program who are playing in jazz bands at various universities.