SF Music Students Make History at 2017 Winter Symposium in Jacksonville
February 7, 2017
Santa Fe College students made history while experiencing the life of music professionals at the Florida College System Activities Association 's Winter Symposium held Jan. 26-28, 2017, at Jacksonville University. The annual event attracts hundreds of music students from throughout Florida to audition for seats in different ensembles, to rehearse, and finally to perform in concert.
"Thirteen students from our vocal and instrumental music department made history in their seating placements and Young Music Artist Scholarship Awards," said Music Professor and Band Director Steve Bingham, Ph.D. "Five vocal students were placed in the Honor Chorus and eight instrumental students also fared very well."
The vocalists, all from Music Professor Lynn Sandefur's vocal studios, were Gerald Bigas, Julia Diven, Arman Haghani, Solangel Padilla and John Steininger.
Representing Bingham's instrumental music program and Dr. Andrew Hamilton's trombone studios were: Todd Crawford (trombone); Michael Gray (alto saxophone); Noah Greene (euphonium); Ryan Hall (trumpet); Darren Krause (clarinet); Ben Salhanick (double bass); Wyatt Thomas (trombone) and Noah Woolard (percussion).
"Two students made history for Santa Fe College at this event," Bingham explained. "Ryan Hall placed first chair trumpet and Wyatt Thomas won a stringent audition and claimed the highly coveted $1000 jazz scholarship. When all the music scholarship winners performed on Friday night, Wyatt played the jazz standard "Cherokee" in a quartet with Ben Salhanick and Noah Woolard from SF and pianist Luke Wilmoth from Polk State College. This was the first time the Santa Fe College Music Department was represented by a Symposium soloist winner!"
Krause (clarinet, second part), Gray (alto sax, second part), Crawford (trombone, third part) and Greene (euphonium, second part) placed in the Symposium's 100-piece Honor Symphonic Band. Woolard placed in the percussion section and Salhanick (double bass) placed second part in the Honor Orchestra.
In the highly competitive Big Band auditions, Thomas (trombone) placed third chair and Hall (trumpet) placed first chair.
Upcoming concerts by Santa Fe College music students include "Winds Go Pops" (March 3) and "Spring Winds & Drums" (April 4), both in the Building E Auditorium, and "Jazz Up Spring" (April 7) and "Sing Into Spring" (April 20) in the Fine Arts Hall.
For more information about the Music Symposium, call Steve Bingham at 352-281-4035.
For more information about SF Fine Arts programs, call Fine Arts Department Chairperson Alora Haynes at 352-395-5296.
