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Lowndes Jazz Band
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Lowndes Jazz BandPress Release
2006-05-04
Article Written by: Community Member
The Jazz Ensemble from Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA will present a concert featuring a variety of music including jazz standards, modern jazz compositions and a blend of popular music on Saturday, May 06, 2006 at 7:00PM in the band shell at Daytona Beach, FL. This group is made up of some of the most talented students at Lowndes High School. Most of these members are also members of the award winning Lowndes High "Georgia Bridgemen" marching band, which numbers around 375 students. The "Georgia Bridgemen" band has won numerous marching and jazz competitions over the years, including winning the Grand Champion trophy at the 2004 Marching Band Invitational held in Sylvester, GA, and also winning the Grand Championship at the National Peanut Festival Marching Competition held in Ashford, AL this past fall. The band appeared in the 2003 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC, and will be appearing in the 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA on January 2, 2006.
The Jazz Ensemble has performed at the Daytona Beach Music Festival in the past, receiving straight superior ratings along with scoring the highest musical performance of the day. The Jazz Ensemble also received straight superior ratings at the 2003 Festival of Champions competition held in Panama City Beach, FL. This group has performed for Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue on two separate occasions, and most recently performed for Congressmen Sanford Bishop in February of this year. The Jazz Ensemble traveled to Nashville, TN in the spring of 2004 where they recorded a professional quality CD containing 18 selections featuring instrumental and vocal selections. This CD will be available for purchase at the concert. This group has also been featured on a local television station, "The Fun Channel" which is broadcast throughout southeast Georgia.
The Director of Bands and fine arts chairperson at Lowndes High School is Charles E. Todd, II, a product of Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL. The 1979 Cum Laude graduate of Bethune Cookman College has been employed with the Lowndes County School System in Valdosta, GA since his graduation. He has been selected as Teacher of the Year in 1992 and 2003, as well as being selected at the 1997 "Star Teacher" for the Lowndes County School system. Charles is also father of a sophomore music education major at Bethune Cookman College, and a Senior Drum Major at Lowndes High School.
Lowndes High School "Georgia Bridgemen" assistant and associate directors include Robert L. Maynard, assistant director, Richard McLendon, assistant director and percussion caption head, Phil Mika, associate director and Debbie Bradley, associate director. For more information, please visit our website at www.georgiabridgemen.com
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