The jazz band students at Rutland Middle School are working hard to prepare for their first performance at the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival.
At the festival, students can challenge themselves by performing in front of professional adjudicators and then they have the chance to watch the adjudicators perform.
Carmen McDowell, the music teacher at Rutland Middle School, said the band students are very dedicated and work hard to improve their musical skills. She is pleased to see their hard work pay off and views the festival as a celebration of their learning.
Ray Fonseca, an eighth grade student who plays the clarinet in the jazz band, feels confident about taking on the challenge.
Fonseca mentioned that it's a new and exciting experience for the whole school to participate in the festival and represent Rutland.
To help them prepare, high school students from Rutland Senior Secondary have been serving as mentors during the rehearsals.
Dominic Perry, a twelfth grade student at Rutland Senior Secondary who plays the trombone, has found the opportunity enjoyable.
Perry expressed that it's been a positive experience for him to act as a role model during rehearsals, even though it can be challenging to maintain a high level of performance.
The high school students are also preparing for the festival and have been practicing diligently.
Jeff Saunders, the music teacher at Rutland Senior Secondary School, has emphasized the value of every performance opportunity for the students and praised the festival as an excellent event.
The students will participate in the 45th annual B.C. Interior Jazz Festival in Kelowna from April 18 to 20. Tickets for the concerts are still available. For more details, visit www.bcinteriorjazzfestival.com
