Hundreds of the state’s top high school musicians descended upon The Classic Center in Athens for the annual All-State Band/Orchestra Clinic including four students from Cambridge High School.
Freshmen Sarah Bowman (french horn) and Jonah Shapiro (trumpet); junior Ugo Nwakanma (trombone) and senior William Morgan (trumpet) auditioned in early December to earn a coveted slot in what has become the state’s most competitive audition for high school musicians. Only a small percentage of students who audition win a seat to attend the annual event.
Hosted by the Georgia Music Educators Association, the 2024 students are given approximately 10 hours of in-person rehearsal with their assigned conductor and fellow musicians before individual bands and orchestras perform hour-long concerts of brand-new music.
Outside of the All-State Band/Orchestra weekend, the four Cambridge students chosen for this honor work daily under the leadership of Mr. Daniel Scott, director of bands of CHS. Since arriving at Cambridge in 2021, the school’s music program has enjoyed explosive growth in size, scope, and skill.
“To say I enjoy working with these kids would be an understatement,” says Scott. “The passion they convey for different genres of music is truly infectious, and their commitment to their craft is unparalleled. We are fortunate to have a principal, Ashley Agans, who is a huge proponent of the arts and shares our desire to continue to grow and strengthen the CHS band program.”
In addition to being selected to attend All State Band weekend in Athens, Bowman, Shapiro, Nwakanma and Morgan performed with fellow CHS wind ensemble musicians around Roswell and the region. CambridgeBand.org
Pictured, clockwise from top left are Jonah Shapiro, William Morgan, Sarah Bowman, and Ugo Nwakanma.