Clarke Central High School senior Jaime Riddle plays scales on the marimba in the band room after school on Tuesday, Jan 17. Riddle will attend the annual University of Georgia January High School Band Festival, also known as Janfest from Jan. 19 through 22. “(Janfest) is over a span of four days. Thursday afternoon after school, we go over to UGA and we audition to see which band we will be placed in,” Riddle said. “On Friday and Saturday, we rehearse all day, then Sunday we have one more rehearsal in the morning and perform that afternoon.” Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
By JULIE ALPAUGH – Senior Visuals Coordinator
Fifteen Clarke Central High School band students will attend the annual University of Georgia January High School Band Festival Jan. 19 through 22.
Janfest, the annual University of Georgia (UGA) January High School Band Festival, will be attended by 15 Clarke Central High School students from Jan. 19 to 22. The festival brings students from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi together to grow as musicians through practice, observation and performance.
“It is just so educational to the kids and they love (it). They get a chance to intermingle with other kids from around a four state area with fantastic conductors,” fine arts department co-chair and Director of Bands Dr. Robert Lawrence said.
Lawrence recommended several students to the UGA Bands and Wind Ensembles department for participation in Janfest. The department chose 15 students from Lawrence’s recommendations.
“We had 25 (band members) to be recommended and we have 15 that were accepted. Before, (11 were accepted), but (this year) we have 15 that were accepted, which is a great honor for us,” Lawrence said.
On the first evening, students audition to see in which one of the eight band they will be placed. The bands include the Honor Wind Ensemble, the Honor Wind Symphony, the Honor Symphonic Band, the Honor Concert Winds and four other clinic bands.
“The work starts when you want to try and make the best band that you can. But even to make, if there was such thing as making the lowest band at Janfest, it’s still education. You practice and get a chance to intermingle with other kids (and) with nationally renowned conductors,” Lawrence said.
Following their instrument master class Friday morning, students find out which bands they made and begin rehearsing for a final concert on Sunday.
“They move very fast and the kids like that. They bring that expertise back to the house and it helps us all,” Lawrence said.
CCHS senior and Janfest attendee Jamie Riddle takes the festival as a learning experience and opportunity to grow as a musician.
“You get to hear how someone else sounds other than just hearing yourself everyday it’s a good experience to go out and listen to other bands play because it teaches you,” Riddle said.
