Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Homestead Jazz Ensemble 1 is the premier jazz ensemble at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The jazz program at Homestead expanded in 2015 with the addition of a second jazz ensemble. Jazz Ensemble 1 and 2 began performing at jazz festivals in 2018, and a third jazz ensemble was added in 2021. All jazz ensembles at Homestead are co-curricular and have corresponding combos. Homestead Jazz Ensemble 1 earns top honor band recognition at local and state jazz festivals and has advanced to the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Jazz Finals six times since the event's inception in 2016. The band advanced most recently in 2025 for their fourth consecutive appearance, where they received the Outstanding Rhythm Section Award and Outstanding Rhythm Section Soloist awards in Indiana. Homestead Jazz Ensemble 1 also performs annually at the Ball State University Larry McWilliams Dimensions in Jazz Festival and the Purdue University Jazz Festival where they have earned top honor band recognition in recent years. In 2022 the band performed at the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Professional Development State Conference as a featured ensemble. The Homestead Instrumental Music Program consists of over 250 students, offering a robust music curriculum with three concert bands, chamber ensembles, three jazz ensembles, three jazz combos, the 220-member Spartan Alliance Marching Band, three concert percussion ensembles, indoor marching percussion, three winter guards, and a symphony orchestra. The Homestead performance ensembles consistently receive superior ratings at ISSMA festivals, Indoor Percussion Association (IPA) events, Indiana High School Color Guard Association (IHSCGA) events, and the Spartan Alliance Band has advanced to the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals for 37 consecutive years. The Spartan Alliance Band is a six-time ISSMA State Champion, a five-time Bands of America Grand National Finalist, a three-time Bands of America Regional Champion, and a six-time Bands of America Super Regional Finalist. Fort Wayne, Indiana, has a unique jazz scene each spring where local high schools host jazz festivals, dating back to the 1970’s. Through the years, the Fort Wayne area high school jazz festivals have brought in guest artists, clinicians, jazz educators, and featured performances from such jazz legends as the Buddy Rich Big Band, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Louie Bellson, Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd, and The Count Basie Orchestra, to Denis DeBlasio, Byron Stripling, Mike Tomaro, Bobby Shew, Wayne Bergeron, and Antonio Garcia, to Indiana local jazz musicians such as Larry McWilliams, Mark Buselli, Tom Walsh, and Sean Imboden. The students in our community have developed great appreciation and respect for this important genre of music because of performances in their outstanding high school jazz ensembles and with these outstanding jazz musicians.
Homestead High School Jazz Ensemble 1
Conductor's Bio
Jason Witzigreuter is the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Jazz Ensemble 1 at Homestead High School. Jason is serving in his 28th year in education and sixth year at Homestead High School. He previously served as Director of Bands at East Noble High School in Kendallville, Indiana, Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Angola Middle School in Angola, Indiana, where he was also the Assistant Band Director at Angola High School, and Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Jason began his career as an assistant band and choir director at East Side Middle School in Anderson, Indiana. From 2012-2016, Jason served as a building principal at Adams Central High School in Monroe, Indiana. He held the same position at Northrop High School from 2016-2019. In 2019, Jason returned to music education, what he calls his “true passion.” Jason teaches Homestead’s Freshman Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and the Spartan Alliance Marching Band. He assists with the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School where he works with the directors daily with all 6th-8th grade band students. Jason’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have received consistent superior ratings and top honors at state and national competitions. His jazz bands have been recognized as top honor bands at jazz festivals, including performances as a featured ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference with Northrop High School Jazz Ensemble 1, the 2022 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference with Homestead High School Jazz Ensemble 1, and The 79th Midwest Clinic - International Band and Orchestra Conference in 2025 with Homestead High School Jazz Ensemble 1. Jason was selected as a winner of the 2025 Quinlan and Fabish Michiana Outstanding Music Educator Award. Jason earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ball State University in 1998 and completed his master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011, and his principal licensure in 2012. His professional affiliations include: Phi Beta Mu - International Bandmasters Fraternity, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Indiana Bandmasters Association (IBA), ISSMA (state jazz committee member), Indiana Jazz Educators Association (IJEA) (state board member), Jazz Educators Network (JEN), National Band Association (NBA), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Jason loves spending time with his wife, Dani, their son Cameron, and their daughter Samantha and together they look forward to their yearly summer vacations on a warm beach in Florida.
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