Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Jazz Program is continually growing and is a great option and opportunity for students to learn more about America’s true art form. The Jazz Collective, Lincoln’s top jazz ensemble, is audition-only. It is required to improvise to gain entrance into the ensemble. The group performs at five concerts, five competitions, and many local opportunities to spread their love of jazz. In total, the group will perform 20-25 different selections each year. The Jazz Ensemble, Lincoln’s second jazz ensemble, is also audition-only. The Jazz Ensemble performs at three concerts and two competitions throughout the year. Developing improvisation skills is the base of the curriculum. The Jazz Ensemble will perform 15-20 selections each year. Jazz “the third” is Lincoln’s final jazz ensemble. This group is open to any student wishing to learn more about Jazz music. Typically, this group has 25-30 students involved. This ensemble performs at three concerts and one competition each year. Finally, a jazz camp which focuses on improvisation is open to all students and takes place each summer.
The 2026 Jazz Collective is made up of (10) seniors, (6) juniors, and (4) sophomores, and (1) freshman. The group has earned many accolades in its illustrious history, highlighted by being crowned the 2024 “Basically Basie” champions and 2025 “Basically Basie” runner-ups; first place finishes at the Coe College Jazz Summit (2023) which is one of the Midwest’s largest jazz festivals, first place at the Waukee BlueNote Jazz Festival (2024 and 2025), and consistent first place finishes at area jazz festivals over the last 40 years. In 2024, the Lincoln Jazz Collective was asked to open for the Augustana Jazz Ensemble and to perform at the South Dakota Bandmasters Conference. The band was also asked to be the first high school group to perform at the new jazz club in downtown Sioux Falls in February of 2025. In the fall of 2025, the band opened for the Fellowship Jazz Orchestra in downtown Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls Lincoln Jazz Collective
Conductor's Bio
Drew Balta is in his twelfth year of teaching and fourth as the Associate Director of Bands at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School; the previous eight spent at West Lyon High School, where he served as the Director of Bands. At Lincoln High School, he co-directs the “Patriot” Marching Band and Pep Band; and directs Jazz I (Jazz Collective), Jazz II (Jazz Ensemble), Concert Band, and Freshmen Band. During his time at Lincoln, the marching band earned their first BOA regional championship in program history (Iowa, 2022), the highest finish at a BOA Super-Regional in state history (4th, St. Louis, 2022), earned the school’s first trip to the finals in the BOA Indianapolis Super Regional (11th, 2023), and performed in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Concert Band (Lincoln’s second group) received the 2nd highest score at the state Large Group contest in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, receiving at least one perfect ballot each year (scoring behind only Lincoln’s top group). The Jazz Collective (Lincoln’s top jazz ensemble) earned numerous awards including 1st place finishes at The Eau Claire Jazz Festival (WI), The Morningside Jazz Festival (IA), The Augustana Jazz Festival (SD), and the Coyote Jazz Festival (SD). In addition, the ensemble finished in 1st at one of the largest jazz festivals in the Midwest, The Coe College Jazz Summit (Cedar Rapids, IA) and were crowned the 2024 Basically Basie Champions and 2025 Basically Basie Runner-ups in Kansas City. The Jazz Collective has also finished in first place at the Blue Note Jazz Festival (IA) each of the last three years. The ensemble performed at the 2024 South Dakota Bandmasters Conference in Brookings, South Dakota alongside guest artist Marques Carroll. Finally, the Collective was selected to perform at the 2026 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. They will be the first jazz band from the state of South Dakota to perform at Midwest in December of 2026.
Under his direction at West Lyon, the Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Symphonic Bands earned consistent division I ratings at their respective IHSMA State Events. During Balta’s tenure, the “Wildcat” Marching Band has earned numerous 1st place finishes accompanied by some major highlights, including but not limited to, a four-time finalist at the Festival of Bands in Sioux Falls, a 5th place overall finish at the 2019 F.O.B., and Grand Champion regardless of class at the 2019 Dutchmen Field Championships; the top jazz ensemble qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships in six consecutive years, featuring a state championship in 2022 and runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2017; 100 percent of high school students participate in the IHSMA state solo and ensemble contest; the top concert band was selected to perform at the 2020 and 2021 Iowa Bandmasters Association Conferences as the guest 2A honor band; and the number of band participants in grades 5-12 continued to grow reaching as high as 37% of the total enrollment in 2021.
In addition to his teaching duties at West Lyon, Mr. Balta served as the Northwest Iowa Honor Band Chair and district representative and state chair of the IBA Marching Band Affairs Committee. In 2017, he was named the NWIBA Martin Crandell Award recipient for outstanding High School Educator. In 2022, Balta was accepted to present on building a successful band culture at the Iowa Bandmasters Conference; and in 2023, was asked to present at the South Dakota Bandmasters Symposium. Balta is an avid leadership consultant in the tri-state area, giving leadership clinics to more than ten schools during the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Mr. Balta is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended Cedar Rapids Prairie High School under the direction of Mr. Craig Aune. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Music with an emphasis in trumpet performance from William Penn University. While at William Penn, Balta served as the Marching and Maneuvering Instructor for the Prairie “Hawk” Marching Band and taught under Jason Pentico at Pella High School and Bruce Peiffer and Carolyn Brickley at North Mahaska. He studied trumpet with Mr. Dick Redman. In the summer of 2022, Balta graduated with his Masters of Music Education degree from the University of Florida.
In his spare time, Mr. Balta enjoys watching Cubs baseball and Hawkeye basketball and football while spending every minute possible with his wife Amanda and daughters Wrigley and Lennyn. In addition, Mr. Balta is an assistant baseball coach at West Lyon.
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