WKHS has two jazz bands and a jazz combo that meet on various days of the week.  Students who play on jazz instruments may audition for the jazz bands; those instruments are:  Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Drum Set, Aux Drums, Bass, Guitar, and Piano.

Students in the jazz bands must also enroll concurrently in a Concert Band (1, 2, or 3).  The only exception to this is students who do not play a band instrument, but want to play in jazz band (i.e., piano, guitar, bass).

The jazz bands perform at most band concerts and have their own "Puttin' On the Ritz" dinner/dance/fundraiser each May.  The Jazz Ensemble will also attend jazz festivals--MSBOA State Jazz Festival and sometimes the WMU Jazz Invitational.

Here are the jazz groups at WKHS:

Jazz Ensemble ("Jazz Band 1" in the course catalog)

Meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:15 AM

Open to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students by audition only...this is the top jazz band.  Auditions for this band will occur at the end of the school year for the following school year.  Some advanced-level 9th graders may qualify to be in this jazz band.

Jazz Lab Band ("Jazz Band 2" in the course catalog)

Meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:15 AM

Open to students 9th through 12th grades by audition only...this is the 2nd jazz band.  Auditions for this band will occur during the first 2 weeks of classes during the fall semester.  Auditions will consist of sight reading and optional demonstration of jazz improvisation and/or style demonstration (music of your choice).

Honors Jazz Combo

Advanced improvisers may be invited to participate in the Honors Jazz Combo, which meets on Fridays from 6:30-7:15 AM.