By Nicole Burns
Since 1950, the University of Georgia’s Band Department has hosted JanFest, also known as, UGA January High School Band Festival. This year’s festival will take place January 17-20, 2019 in Athens, Georgia.
Students were nominated by their band directors earlier in the school year. “UGA Bands staff selects students to participate based on the order of the director’s submission, the instrumentation need of the festival bands, and the reported musical achievements of each student,” states JanFest’s website. With only 1,000 slots for all of the nominated students from approximately 130 schools statewide, to be accepted is truly an honor.
The northern Gwinnett County area will be well represented at JanFest. Below are a list of musicians accepted to attend along with their band director.
Buford High School (Director – Matt Young)
Jaden Skelton – Clarinet, Paul Kwai – Trumpet, Savanna Wachter – Flute, Melissa Garcia – Flute, Katharine Alsobrook – Flute, Will Jamieson – Tuba, Nataly Garcia – Clarinet, Elizabeth Sanders – Trombone, and Toni Telenta – Bassoon
Lanier High School (Director – Benjamin Tingle)
Hector Montalvo – Horn, John Rumble – Percussion, Madeleine Tingle – Flute, Ariana Carrero – Bb Clarinet, Megan McGrath – Bb Clarinet, Bryant Le – Alto Saxophone, James Lorenzen – Tuba, and Michael Valdez – Trumpet, Jasmin Mena – Trombone
North Gwinnett High School (Director – Rudy Gilbert)
Heeseo Han – Flute, Kipling Len – Flute, Kaitlyn Baek – Clarinet, Daniel Kim – Clarinet, Jason Mok – Clarinet, Eric Park – Bass Clarinet, Chase Harrington – Percussion, Grace Oh – Clarinet, Andrew Lewis – Alto Saxophone, Chase Fiveash – Tenor Saxophone, Ethan Keairnes – Percussion, Sam Renner – French Horn, and Sarah Kim – Clarinet
