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Superior Sounds

By Staff | Feb 22, 2013

Shepherdssown Middle School jazz band students continued an impressive tradition as they performed at the Hedgesville High School Jazz Festival last Saturday.The band took superior ratings at the 27th annual Hedgesville Jazz Festival. Receiving a “1,” which is the highest level of achievement, the school’s band also saw five of its members named to the Middle School All-Star Band. Selected were Ian Livingston, on trumpet, Ally Ward on trombone, Karsyn McCarthy on bari sax, Tighe Didden on drums and Ian King on bass.

In addition to these students selected for the All-Star band, the school’s trombone and rhythm sections were named as the outstanding sections by Saturday’s judges.

The band will compete again Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Eastern Regional Jazz Festival. Their performance time, according to band director Chad Conant, is 11 a.m.

Members of the band include Alto sax players Amanda Biebel, Kate Cauvel and Donovan Frye; tenor sax players Ashley Derr, Joey Gentile and Keli Stegall; bari sax player Karsyn McCarthy; trumpet players Ian Livingston, Luke Brown, Wren Parker and Ben Yost; trombone players Ally Ward, Maddi Saghy, Noah Wirt and Alston Liuy; guitarist Ryan King; Bass player Ian King; piano player Daisy Levine; drummer Tighe Didden and Auxiliary percussionists Alex Yates and Lydian Jannotta.

Conant shared that the band performed four pieces at the festival including “Cold Duck Time” by Eddie Harris, arr. By Mark Taylor; “Flight of the Foo Birds by Neal Hefti, arr. By Roy Phillippe; “St. James Infirmary” by Joe Primrose, arr. By Mike Kamuf;a nd “Big Noise from Winnetka” by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc, arr. By Paul Lavendar.

The Shepherdstown Middle School Jazz Band was judged as the best middle school jazz band in the state of West Virginia for 2012. Following the Regional festival Saturday, the band will know if they will once again compete for the state honor.