Richland School District Jazz Musicians Shine at Mead Jazz Festival

Richland School District student musicians delivered outstanding performances at the prestigious Mead Jazz Festival, earning top honors across multiple divisions and showcasing the depth of talent throughout the district.

Carmichael Middle School’s Advanced Jazz Band, led by Rudy Guidry, had an exceptional showing, earning second place in the preliminary competition before rising to first place in the finals. This marks the second consecutive year that Carmichael has claimed the middle school division title.

At the high school level, Hanford High School Jazz 1, directed by Chris Newbury, achieved a remarkable victory, earning First Place/Sweepstakes honors at the festival. After placing outside the top three in the AAAA preliminary round, the group delivered a standout finals performance that pushed them ahead of all competitors. Watch HHS Jazz Band 1 perform Fruitcake and Tall and Lanky.

Hanford’s success continued with the Freshmen Jazz Band, under the direction of Cole Lobdell, earning third place in the A/AA division, highlighting the strength of the program at every level.

Middle school musicians across the district also made their mark. Chief Joseph Middle School’s Silver Jazz I was named a finalist in the middle school division, while the school’s Teal Jazz 2 band secured third place in the preliminary round.

The Mead Jazz Festival is widely recognized as one of the premier jazz events in the region, offering students the opportunity to perform at a high level while learning from accomplished professors and professional musicians. Richland School District’s strong showing reflects both the dedication of its students and the commitment of its music educators.

Mead Jazz Festival Outstanding High School Musicians:

• Harper Hagen (HHS Freshman Jazz)
• Nathanael McGary (HHS Jazz 1)
• Sonali Santhosh (HHS Jazz 1)
• Samuel Wang (HHS Freshman Jazz)
• Lee Zeng (HHS Jazz 1)

Mead Jazz Festival Outstanding Middle School Musicians:

• Coen Meir (CJMS Teal Jazz)
• Sage Egbert (CJMS Teal Jazz)
• Chris Horstman (CJMS Teal Jazz)
• Ian Kirk (CJMS Silver Jazz)
• Simon Mackey (CJMS Silver Jazz)
• Logan Reberger (CJMS Silver Jazz)
• Derek Porter (EMS Jazz 1)
• Sawyer Sleeman (EMS Jazz 1)
• Benjamin Larsen (CMS Advanced Jazz)
• Teagan Sams (CMS Advanced Jazz)
• Anthony Pfau (CMS Advanced Jazz)
• Brian Joachin (CMS Advanced Jazz)