FAC Musicians In The News

Fine Arts Center band students scored well at the All-County Band auditions, held at Mauldin High School on January 25th. Freshman clarinetist Luke Delello (Wade Hampton HS), who began his formal studies of the clarinet last year, earned a chair in the Senior Band. (Luke also holds down the solo clarinet chair in his school band, conducted by Jeremy Ladd.) Bassoonist Carmichael Caldwell (JL Mann HS) also earned a chair in the Senior Band. Freshman alto saxophonist Jake Webb (Wade Hampton HS) won the second chair position in his section. Percussionist Josh Caprell (South Side Christian School) acquired, for the second year in a row, the Tympanist chair in the upper-level Wind Ensemble, scoring 198.5 out of a possible 200 points in his audition. David Katilius (JL Mann HS) earned second chair snare drum in that ensemble.

The All-County Band Festival will be held at Woodmont High School on February 12-13.

FAC percussionist Ben Tomlinson (Riverside HS) earned the First Chair position on mallets (marimba, xylophone, etc.) at the All-County Band auditions, but is enjoying other successes as well. Tomlinson won the First Chair position on snare drum in the Region Band auditions. (Ben is pictured here with FAC's recently acquired snare drum, custom designed and built by Artie Liebermann of Charlotte, NC.) And finally, as Tympanist of the School District's Philharmonic orchestra, Ben goes with a well-rounded palette of percussion skills to Furman University this fall. Ben took the "early decision" audition at Furman In December and was offered, amongst others, a $10,000 scholarship for the musical skills he will bring to that university.