The Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) Music Department has announced the Tops 'n' Pops Jazz Concert, scheduled for Friday, April 25th, at 7:00 PM in the Mount Vernon Middle School Commons. This announcement was made through a press release on April 8, 2025.
According to MVHS, the event will feature performances by the Mount Vernon Middle School Jazz Band, the Mount Vernon High School "Mellow Jackets" Jazz Band, and the Knox County Jazz Orchestra. The concert will offer a mix of classic swing and contemporary pop-influenced jazz. Admission is priced at $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students, with free popcorn and full concessions available. All proceeds from the event will support Mount Vernon's music programs.
The Knox Community Jazz Orchestra (KCJO), established in 2017, plays a significant role in Knox County's arts scene alongside symphonies, choirs, and theater groups. Directed by Kenyon College Professor Ted Buehrer, KCJO performs a wide range of jazz styles from early swing to contemporary pieces. The orchestra is known for drawing on local talent and continuing the tradition of community jazz bands in the area.
Trevor Marcho, band director at Mount Vernon High School since 2008, has extensive experience as a music educator teaching students from Pre-K to college levels. Marcho previously served as band director at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, Maine, and has taught music in both Maine and Ohio. He has also been part of the music faculty at the University of Maine and Cleveland State University. A former U.S. Navy musician from 2001 to 2006, he performed as a trombonist and euphonium soloist with several Navy bands.
The MVHS Music Department aims to provide all students with access to quality music education through a curriculum that includes performance opportunities as well as courses in music history and theory. The department offers six performing ensembles—Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Women's Chorus, Chorale, Concert Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra—that regularly perform and earn high ratings at festivals. Additional experiences include participation in Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, and small ensembles. General music education courses such as Beginning Piano Lab, Trends in Popular Music, and Music Theory are also offered.
