To be in an honor band, you’ve go to be among the best. And by being among the best, four North Atlanta students recently learned what it was like to earn that distinction.

North Atlanta band members Chris Tidwell, Alexis Wilson, Kyle Favors, and Clarence Hixon represented their school at a prestigious gathering of some of the best high school musicians in the state. The students attended an honor band event held January 22 through 25 at the University of Georgia (UGA). The event is well known among high school musicians. Officially, the event is called the UGA January Festival Honor Band. “But everyone just calls it Jan-Fest,” said Wilson.

The four selected from North Atlanta met the specific requirements necessary to participate in Jan-Fest. Band Director Adam Brooks said he selected the four because of their exhibited excellence in the North Atlanta Band. The student’s respective instruments are Tidwell, clarinet; Wilson, French horn; Favors, percussion; and Hixon, basson.

All the North Atlanta event attendees auditioned the first day of the festival. After the audition, they were placed into different bands. Throughout the course of this festival, students participated in instructional clinics and musical workshops. They also were able to play with and watch performances by top assembled ensembles. Tidwell has his own opinion of what it was like to be among some of the state’s top musicians. “It was like being around people in the same playing level as you along with people better than you,” he said.

Learning new techniques was inspiring, as was being around peers from other schools who shared their excitement for music. “It was a mind-opening experience and I remember everything I learned to incorporate here in leading our own school band,” Wilson said.

Only a small fraction of band students have the opportunity to participate in Jan-Fest. A strong quartet of students from North Atlanta High School was able to represent their school. “The event made me realize that you’re kind of a big fish in a small pond when you’re at school, but when you’re in the real world, you’re a big fish in a big sea,” Tidwell said.