Kennedy’s vocal jazz group, Moonlight, finished second at Iowa’s vocal Jazz State Championships on March 30, despite a slow start to the year.

“It was different from last year, in the beginning for sure, because we didn’t have any in-person rehearsals until around winter,” Peyton Kach, sr., said. ”We basically just learned our parts and sent in recordings without knowing how to blend within our new group.”

Moonlight’s online rehearsal schedule was hindered as well, Kennedy didn’t start school until late September due to the derecho, causing a delayed start to rehearsals. 

“It was really difficult at first, but when we started meeting in person and I got to sing with the group I knew and loved, it was just wonderful. And now that we got second at the jazz festival, it feels even more rewarding that we all stuck to it and kept singing, as cheesy and nasty as it sounds.” Shay Larson, sr., said.

Students missed in-person classes during the lockdown and were elated to get back to singing.

“Going to Moonlight class always brightened my mood because I was with my friends and it was so fun,” Kach said.

Next school year, Moonlight will be back with a normal rehearsal schedule. Hopefully, they will even get to start on time, meaning they will be back and better than ever next year.

“Despite the circumstances of masks and social distancing, it was everything I was expecting, a group collaborating and making beautiful music together,” Laci McHenry, jr., said.