The Milton Wind Ensemble was selected by taped audition to be one of three featured ensembles at the 57th Annual University of Georgia High School Music Festival. The festival, known as “JanFest”, attracts nearly 1,000 high school band members and their directors to Athens each year to participate in Honor Bands featuring guest conductors from across the country. The students participating in “JanFest” also attend concerts by the featured ensembles and different ensembles from the University of Georgia.
This is a tremendous honor for the Milton Wind Ensemble who will also perform at a similar event next month at the University of South Carolina.
At the performance, Milton’s director Randall Coleman was honored with the “Citation of Excellence” award. This is the 7th such award Mr. Coleman has received from the National Band Association, the largest organization of band directors in the world. The award goes to band directors who’s ensemble has a history of a distinguished level of accomplishment, or an individuals who has made significant contributions to the field. Not only have Mr. Coleman and the Milton Wind Ensemble been asked to perform at many special events, he has also served as President and Vice President of the Georgia Music Educator’s Association.
The Milton Wind Ensemble has made guest featured ensemble performances at the national convention of the Music Educators’ National Conference in Salt Lake City Utah in 2006, at the Georgia Music Educators’ Association State Conference in 2004 and at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in 2004.