JEFFERSONTWP— For Shawn and Aaron O'Leary of Penn Township, Thursday's Jazz Festival at Knoch High School is more than a revived tradition, it is a chance for them to play at the same concert.

An annual event in the past, the Jazz Festival is being resurrected this year and will include bands from Knoch, Butler, Mars and Seneca Valley high schools. The Grove City College Jazz Band will make a guest appearance thanks to Shawn's connection with the band and the host school, Knoch.

The festival was reinstated when Dan O'Leary, Shawn and Aaron's father, contacted the Knoch band director about bringing the concert back to Knoch.

"It's an opportunity for them to perform with their peers," Dan O'Leary said.

Although Shawn and Aaron O'Leary play different instruments, they enjoy the same music — swing.

Shawn, a junior at Grove City College, began tapping rhythms on a drum set in fifth grade. He said he didn't find his niche in jazz until he started private lessons the next year.

He joined the jazz band at Knoch Middle School and continued when he entered high school. Now, he plays drums in the college jazz band when not studying for his degree in computer science.

"I like jazz because there are more options," he said. "You can keep a specific rhythm or think out of the box. It adds a unique flavor."

For listening and playing, Shawn likes that flavor to be the big bands of the 1930s and '40s, he said.

Aaron does also. He plays tenor saxophone, and likes to play the solos when he can.

Aaron, a freshman at Knoch, said he remembers being very young and seeing the high school band festival. He chose to play the saxophone when he saw his first solo.

"I'd watch the soloist stand up and play the fast notes," he said.

Aaron first became a musician in fourth grade with private lessons, where he was introduced to jazz music. He started in concert band and then joined the jazz bands at Knoch.

He said he likes to play jazz music because of the many styles. "There's a way to show yourself through the music," he said.

"A lot of the music is very optional," he said. "You could not play a part or just improvise and the audience probably wouldn't know."

Although the brothers shared similar paths to earn spots on jazz bands, they have never played in the same concert until now.

The musicians play specialized music, so the concert will be different from what is usually heard from high school students.

"They're listening to Coltrane, not Coldplay," Dan O'Leary said.

"When (Aaron) needs a brush-up or is going to an audition, he'll listen (to Coltrane) and try to imitate the sound."

Knoch's jazz director Tom Madar said the interest from students who wanted to get involved will make the concert a success. Audiences, he said, will hear anything from jazz standards to swing and blues. "There's a whole range," he said.

"These tend to the best of the best," Madar said of the musicians. He said audiences will enjoy the music because jazz is more interactive and up-tempo than other types of music.

About 100 students will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Knoch High School auditorium.

<b>WHAT:</b> Jazz Festival hosted by Knoch High School featuring bands from Butler, Mars and Seneca Valley high schools and Grove City College<b>WHEN: </b>7 p.m. April 20<b>WHERE: </b>Knoch High School Auditorium, 345 Knoch Road, Saxonburg<b>COST: </b>Free