The North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble I comprises our top jazz musicians from grades 9 through 12. Students wishing to be a member of this ensemble must audition in the fall.  This ensemble studies, rehearses, and performs a wide range of advanced and professionally graded music from the jazz idiom.  Under the direction or Mr. Todd R. Stefan, the NA Jazz Ensemble I has received straight superior ratings in regional and national music festivals, including the Slippery Rock University Jazz Festival, the Edinboro University Jazz Festival, the WDUQ/Duquesne University Jazz Festival, the National Events Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Jazz Ensemble Adjudication in Atlanta, Georgia, the North American Music Festival in Virginia Beach, VA., and at Festival Disney in Orlando, FL.

The NA Jazz Ensemble I  has had the great honor of working with some of the finest music educators and jazz musicians including Mr. Ralph Ford- Director of Bands and the world renowned "Sound of the South" Marching Band, the John Long School of Music from Troy University, Troy, Alabama, Mr. Dennis DiBlasio, nationally recognized arranger and composer and former member of the Maynard Ferguson Band, Mr. "Bucky" Johnson retired Director of Bands from Georgia Tech University, and Dr. George Naff- Retired Director of the Duke University Wind Ensemble, arranger, clinician, and former saxophonist with the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., Dr. Stephen Hawk, Director of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Slippery Rock University, and Jack Wilkins- Director of Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida.

The band has also had the pleasure of hosting performances by the Slippery Rock University Jazz Ensemble I under the direction of Dr. Stephen Hawk, the Youngstown State University Jazz Ensemble I under the direction of Dr. Kent Engelhardt, and the Youngstown State University Faculty Jazz Combo, the Hawk-Tomaro Big Band, under the and the direction of Dr. Stephen Hawk and Michael Tomaro, and the United States Marine Corps Jazz Combo from Athens, Georgia.

For information about the NA Jazz Ensemble I, email Mr. Todd R. Stefan at tstefan@northallegheny.org