MADISON – On May 11, the Bob Jones High School Jazz Band will perform at Madison Senior Center, 1282 Hughes Road for the annual Jazz Brunch.

The public is welcome to attend this treat to the taste buds and enjoyment of big-band sounds. The brunch will open at 9 a.m. and run to 11 a.m.

Senior center members hope for a big turnout from the community to enjoy the talents of the young musicians.

Tickets are quite reasonable at $5 and will be sold at the event. Madison Senior Center members should register at myactivecenter.com to allow for an accurate count for food preparation.

This combination of a meal and music will be an experience that all ages will enjoy, Madison Senior Center Director Levoneia Ayers said.

In 2018, the annual event started when the president of Bob Jones Band Boosters contacted then center director Vickie Parker with the idea of a brunch. “Our center has always partnered with the city schools,” Parker said. “I saw this as an excellent way to partner with them.”

Band parents will serve a tempting array of sweet and savory foods. In past years, guests at the brunch have enjoyed biscuits, flavored coffees . . . even chocolate gravy.

The Bob Jones Jazz Brunch not only raises funds for the senior center but gives the teenagers a way to give back by showcasing their mastery of the jazz genre.

Leigh Thomas is Director of Bands at Bob Jones. Kevin Smart is Assistant Band Director and coordinates the Indoor Drumline.

Jazz Band at Bob Jones is offered as an extracurricular activity, available only during spring semester. The group’s events and functions will vary from semester to semester and can include small concert venues, special events and fundraisers. The size of the Jazz Band can vary, depending on the number of students who want to join.

During fall 2023, the full membership of Bob Jones Marching Band competed in several marching festivals. Judges rated Bob Jones as Grand Champion at Stones River Classic in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Class 7A Marching Band Championship; and the Coldwater Classic. During competition season, Bob Jones earned various awards, such as “Outstanding Music,” “Outstanding Visual,” “Outstanding General Effect” and “Most Entertaining Show.”08