Cary-Grove Combo Strikes Gold with Prestigious National DownBeat Award

By Kristine Ensor

Since 2005, Patrick Whalen, Cary-Grove Band Director, has led twenty-four groups of music students to national recognition with DownBeat magazine. This year, the 2024-2025 Cary Grove High School Jazz Combo was named winner of the High School Division Blues/Pop/Rock Group category in DownBeat's Student Music Awards.

DownBeat is a premier American music magazine headquartered in Chicago. Its Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education.