The FC Jazz Band will compete against different musical groups in a band festival at Merced’s Golden Valley High School (GVHS), Nov. 10.

The band will perform at 1:20 p.m., shortly after their arrival on the GVHS campus. The band plans to leave the FC campus at 11 a.m and return to school by 3 p.m.

This is the first official festival this semester where the professional judicators will critique the band both on performance and musical abilities.

Although this is only her first year playing in the jazz band, Madison Seib, ?15, looks forward to the festival.

“I really had fun playing for the desert concert a few days ago in front of a big audience,” Seib said. “I believe that our band will do great because we have been trying very hard almost every day to improve musically.”

As a second year jazz band drummer, Trevor Trevino, ’17, looks forward to performing his favorite song of the year, the “River Rat Shuffle,” and hopes for positive results.

“I like ‘River Rat Shuffle’ because this is the piece that everyone is better at,” Trevino said. “I know that we will be judged this time by professional musicians so I hope to play very well.”

The band plans to play three pieces: “River Rat Shuffle,” ?Hit the Bricks” and “Bossa Madeira.” Music Director Michael Ogdon remains optimistic about the festival for the growth that will develop through the judges’ harsh critiques.

“This is the festival where many different groups compete,” Ogdon said. “The judges will grade us and critique us harshly but I consider that as a learning experience, so everything will be fine.”

For more information about the festival, please contact Michael Ogdon at 559.287.4226. For directions to Golden Valley High School, please visit their school website. For more news, read the Nov. 8 article, Fulton Mall to host outdoor ice rink (VIDEO).