Three SCF Music Students Earn Awards at State Competition

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s (SCF) Music program nominated eight students to compete in the Florida College System Activities Association 2021 Student Artist competition. Three SCF music students won their respective categories.

• Classical Guitar: Jacob Wicks, a sophomore student of Rex Willis, member of the SCF Guitar Ensemble and a composer.
• Jazz: Henley Connor (drum kit), a sophomore student of Tomasz Kowalczyk (percussion) and Dr. Pete Carney (jazz), and a member of the SCF Big Band and Symphonic Band.
• Brass: Nathan Reid (tuba), a freshman student of Dr. Dan Burdick, and a member of the SCF Big Band, Symphonic Band and Bradenton Symphony Orchestra.

The competition took place through an online platform called “Heart Out.” Music students competed as solo artists in eight different categories, including woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, piano, jazz, vocal and classical guitar. Winners receive a $2,000 scholarship upon transferring to a four-year university as a music major. The students submitted their video recordings, and the judging occurred on Thursday, Jan. 21. Winners were announced via email on Friday, Jan. 22.

Vocal students were required to perform five songs in four languages, such as English, French, Italian, German or Spanish. The instrumental students had to perform two pieces from different styles that added up to at least 12 minutes of music. The jazz students performed three pieces of music from three different jazz styles and had to demonstrate competency in improvisation.

For more information about music opportunities, attending performances or donating to the SCF Music program, visit SCF.edu/Music or contact Dr. Robyn Bell at BellR@SCF.edu.