The community is invited to enjoy an evening of jazz as the Music Boosters of Twin Valley in conjunction with band director Robert Bennett host Jazz in the Valley, a jazz band festival, on Friday, Feb. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. at Twin Valley High School (TVHS).

In addition to the music, attendees will have an opportunity to purchase dinner and there will be a chance to win prizes. TVHS merchandise will also be for sale.

Jazz in the Valley will feature a competition between eight groups. In addition to the host band, other local high schools that will participate are Radnor, Upper Darby, Hempfield and Wilson high schools along with Pottsgrove High School, which will send two jazz bands to the event. Also participating will be Cherry Hill East High school from Cherry Hill, N.J.

According to Cheryl Skoniczin, president of the Music Boosters of Twin Valley, jazz bands are groups of students who perform music in a big band style. Unlike a high school marching band, there are fewer members in a jazz band, and jazz band musicians wear formal attire.

"A jazz band is a smaller group of students," she explained. "It has a trombone section, a trumpet section, saxophones and a rhythm section, which includes keyboards and drums and sometimes a guitar. There are 20 to 25 kids in each group. There are no flutes and clarinets."

At the upcoming event, the student musicians will be judged on their performances. "The groups will get a rating of how they did, plus best soloist and best trombone, trumpet and saxophone and rhythm section (will be awarded)," said Skoniczin. "They will do that at the end of the night. They will call a representative from each band up on the stage and the judges will dole out the awards."

Skoniczin pointed out that one of the jazz bands from Pottsgrove High School will go on stage first at 6 p.m. and then bands will perform in succession every 25 minutes. There will be an intermission about 7:40 p.m. The TVHS jazz band will be the final performer at 9:10 p.m., and the event should conclude by 9:45 p.m.

Food concessions will be available in the lobby throughout the evening. Dinner choices will include pizza, hot dogs, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, homemade soup and baked goods.

Skoniczin noted that the TVHS jazz ensemble performs at events throughout the spring semester and at competitions. Next up for the group is the Downingtown High School East Jazz Festival on Friday, March 1, and the Kutztown High School Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 16.

There will be an admission fee for Jazz in the Valley. Tickets will be sold at the door. All proceeds will benefit the booster club, which supports all Twin Valley School District music students and programs.

TVHS is located at 4897 N. Twin Valley Road, Elverson. For more information, contact Bennett at rbennett@tvsd.org.