For The Press and Standard
Congratulations to the Colleton County High School BIG BLUE Jazz Band for earning the first ever Superior rating at the 2023 South Carolina Band Directors Association Jazz Performance Assessment Festival. Big Blue Jazz earned straight superior rankings for all 3 of the judges at the event held at Newberry College, March 4th.
The Jazz band traveled to Newberry College and was one of 80 ensembles to perform for comments and a rating. Associate Director Nick Infinger stated “we are extremely proud of our band members and their hard work. The jazz ensemble has grown so much musically and really played well today.”
This is only the third time Colleton County High School has sent a Jazz band to the state festival, the last being pre-covid in 2020. The jazz band meets only once a week after school and is open to any band member. Several students are learning a second or different instrument.
The CCHS BIG BLUE Jazz Band includes the following members:
Flute: Arika Deshane,
Alto Saxes: Kevin White, Kamron Longfellow, Dashaad Fishburne, Alex Green, Josh King, Neveah Smith
Tenor Saxes: Amber Parker, and Carla Harrison
Baritone Sax: Cameron Thigpen
Trumpets: Abe Green, Sean Nunez, Jade Amundson, Nora Holmes, Marrissa Hill, Emma Bailey, Aiden Risher, Ashley Garcia, Morgan Stewart
Trombones: Derek Oliver, Shawn Jacques, Charley Crabb, Maddux Phelps, TreQuan Stokes, Sarah Wilson, Jada Christian, Allie Sluess, Zahriana Gethers, Jacob Deshane
Bass Guitar: Caroline Herndon
Rhythm Guitar: Dominick Jackson
Piano: Princeton Brooks
Drum Set: Andrea James, Dominick Jackson, Marquez Kirkland
The CCHS Big Blue Jazz Band performed three selections: “On Broadway” featuring Dominick Jackson on Guitar and Cameron Thigpen on Bari Sax, Georgia On My Mind by Hoagey Charmichael featuring Abe Greene on Trumpet, Kevin White and Kamron Longfellow on Alto Sax and Derick Oliver and Shawn Jacques on Trombone and finally ending with “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington featuring Kamron Longfellow on Alto Sax
The Band of Blue Concert Band will perform at the 2023 South Carolina Band Directors Association State Concert Performance Assessment at James Island High School on March 16th .
The Concert Band will play perform in Class 4.
The CCMS Bands Combined 7th and 8th grade band will perform the next week at the 2023 SCBDA CPA for Middle School Bands at Duboise Middle School on March 21st
CCHS Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will be competing at River Bluff High School on March 11th and then at the 2022 CWEA Indoor Championships later in April.
The Band of Blue with the CCMS Band, CCHS Winter Percussion, Winter Guard and BIG BLUE Jazz Band will perform at their annual Spring Concert, Sunday, March 26 at 4pm. Tickets are $2 at the door.
The Band Director is Tom Finigan with assistance from Nick Infinger, Cathy Meshach, Clay Blackwood, and Jason Johnson.
The Principal of Colleton County High School is Maurice Cannon and the Principal of Colleton County Middle School is Michael Kiett.
What is Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®)?
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high quality music education programs in our nation’s schools. NAfME hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy. Learn more about how NAfME works to support music education.
