Young musicians showcase their talent during two-day jazz festival

Ormond Beach Observer
News

Kaylin Davis' father was in band when he was younger, so when his daughter started middle school he encouraged her to get involved in the world of music.

When Davis first started out, her school had no one playing saxophone. She gave the alto saxophone a try and, now a high school senior, is still playing the instrument.

Seabreeze High School student Tabitha Patrick. Photo by Nichole Osinski

The Atlantic High School student was one of the many participants that were at the 2018 Lakeside Jazz Festival where the upbeat sounds of music flowed from City Center. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21, middle school, high school and college students competed with their songs and, most importantly, showcased their musical talent.

"I love the never-ending types of music," Davis said. "I enjoy watching other people perform and I know that I enjoy it and it's great to know that there are other people who enjoy it too."

Pine Ridge High school students Kathan Stombaugh and Austin Regovic. Photo by Nichole Osinski

The festival, which has happened for the past 20 years, is put on through the city along with the Atlantic High School "Sharks" Band and the Spruce Creek High School "High Steppin' Hawks" Band with the goal to provide summer music camp scholarship funding for students.

Jarrod Koskoski, Seabreeze High School director, was out at City Center with his students on Friday morning. The band practiced as Pine Ridge High played before judges in the distance.

DeLand High school student Logan Bruno. Photo by Nichole Osinski

"What it's really about is the students getting together, performing with one another with a crowd that's very friendly," Koskoski said. "It's kind of reviving that idiom that we don't hear a lot on the radio. What a great opportunity to come out on a great day like this."

Spruce Creek High School freshman Autumn Semenick was playing bass alongside four of her peers on Saturday morning as more school bands arrived at the festival. Semenick started playing after seeing other musicians performing and deciding she too wanted to learn how to play.

Spruce Creek High School student Autumn Semenick.

As for the festival, Semenick saw the event as a positive experience for her and other students.

"I think it's a great experienced for us to have, especially when we're younger," Semenick said. "We're going to look back on these days and think, wow, that was a lot of fun."