NFC to Feature Local Student Musicians During Spring Music Festival
MADISON, FL (May 4, 2022) – North Florida College (NFC) welcomes all to experience the musical talents of local student musicians during its Spring Music Festival on Monday, May 16, at 7:00 pm in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Patrons will enjoy an hour of performances from a range of styles by students of varying ages and experience. Admission is open to the public with limited seating.
Those featured in this performance include the NFC Sentinel Jazz Band, NFC guitar students, piano students of Analine Hellman and Caitlin Moore, and guitar, ukulele, and trumpet students of Jay Hicks.
The NFC Sentinel Jazz Band is comprised of students who play jazz, pop, and rock music. These musicians practice three days a week during the semester, and have performed for college faculty and staff events, as well as with the Sentinel Upstage Players theatre group. Instruments include trumpet, saxophone, bass, drums, keyboards, and guitar.
When asked what is the most rewarding experience leading up to this performance, Hicks says “Seeing individuals grow to love and appreciate music, and the instruments they play.”
Hellman, originally from Brazil, began studying classical piano at the age of 11. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance at Universidade Sagrado Coração in Brazil, assistantship to study at Valdosta State University, and Master's in Piano Performance. Hellman has numerous years of experience in private and group piano instruction within various schools around Brazil and in the United States.
Originally from Oregon, Moore has been accompanying since she was eight years old. She graduated from Young Harris College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and Valdosta State University with her Master’s in Music Performance in collaborative piano. Moore has also taught class piano and secondary piano lessons for non-music major students at VSU.
For over 20 years, Hicks has been teaching private and group guitar lessons. Before retiring from public education, he taught general music and band at Madison Creative Arts Academy. Hicks is a writer and editor of guitar publications for the FJH Music Company in Fort Lauderdale, editor on its Young Beginners Guitar Method, and a writer and developer for Method Teacher, LLC. Hicks is an adjunct guitar instructor at NFC, where he also serves as Musical Director for the community theatre program. Hicks earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory from Charter Oak State College, and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Florida. He did additional studies in jazz improvisation and performance on guitar at Valdosta State University.
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