Biography

​My name is Samaria Badger. Music has been a part of my life forever. When I started my first day in middle school, I decided I wanted to join the band. We went through trying different instruments and that's when I learned the clarinet was for me. I played everything from the B flat clarinet to the Contra-Alto Clarinet. Everything about the band was so interesting to me, having challenges to get the first chair every two weeks was fun and also helpful. Not only was I having fun but I was getting better on my instrument. I did honor band and different things.

I started high school and I continued to be in a band. I wanted to do marching band but softball is during the same season as marching. Softball is also another passion of mine that I have done since I was little. I didn't let that phase me. I continued playing in the band to take the class. I moved schools, where I still took band class with amazing people and an amazing teacher who I now call family.

During my years I also joined the chorus, where I also meet wonderful people. Now as I am closing out my senior year I got to experience helping the marching band for their season , as an assistant and seeing their growth. Also helping and learning about other disciplines. Within the fine arts community.

Being in the fine arts came with an amazing experience like going to Nashville Tennessee tour, performing for school events and concerts, singing with the chorus for people who were in the hospital for the holidays. I will forever be happy I made the decision to join the band and the other fine arts because I feel like being a part of these organizations made me who I am today.

E-Portfolio

https://samariab.weebly.com/

Video Reflection

How the Fine Arts Impacted Me

Biography

Jesus Cruz served as the Assistant Band Captain and the Music-Technology Liaison under the direction of Mrs. Katy Wilson-Fields. He has played the trumpet for the first three years of his academic career until he switched to the euphonium in his senior year. He participated in concert band in his freshman year, but moved up to the West Hall Symphonic Band a year later. He participates in various clubs outside of marching band including: Beta Club, National Spanish Honor Society, Fine Arts Council, and Tri-M Honor Society, to name a few. He is a dedicated student outside of the arts. Jesus Cruz waits for the IB Full and Bilingual Diploma this summer, which was achieved through a two-year program of six-college level classes. He has maintained All As throughout his high school career, and has achieved the title of AP Scholar.

Jesus played in other bands such as the Hall County Honor Band, Piedmont Partnership Band, and UNG Brass Choir. This involved leaving the school to join other members from areas outside of the Oakwood area. He enjoyed the difficulty of music that he got to explore as he developed as a musician through these bands. His plans for the future include a career in the field of cybersecurity after he studies Computer Science at UGA. While at UGA, Jesus intends to find a medium in which he can continue to play his instrument and maintain his love for the fine arts.

E-Portfolio Link

https://jesuscruzeportfolio.weebly.com

Video Reflection

https://youtu.be/Eyeipe22RE8

Biography

Joseph Patten is a senior trombone player in the West Hall High School Band. He is in several ensembles within the band, including the concert, jazz, symphonic, and mastery bands, as well as being low brass section leader in the marching band. He has experience playing his main instrument, as well as euphonium, clarinet, french horn, and tuba, which he has played in West Hall's Concert Band, alongside some dabbling in percussion, trumpet, and piano. Joseph plans to go to Columbus State University to study music education, and then hopes to become a band director on the middle or high school level. Joseph is and has been a part of many ensembles over his four years at West Hall, including the West Hall Band of Silver, the Concert, Jazz, Symphonic, and Mastery Band classes. He was a part of the UNG Brass Choir for two years, is currently in the West Hall Brass Ensemble, and arranged music for a trombone quartet he was in. Joseph also is a part of the West Hall Middle and High School Mentorship program, where he mentors two sixth grade trombone players. Lastly, Joseph is a mentee to Ms. Foster, the director at the middle school, who is showing him the ropes of being a director.

Video Reflection

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MW8Tsz6I_bI2Zgb6ywPLsk4uXUOV--1S

E-Portfolio Link

https://sites.google.com/hallco.org/j-patten-band-portfolio/home

Biography

My name is Kaylee Smallwood. I play Clarinet in the West Hall High School Band. I have participated in three years of Marching Band of Silver and two years of Clarinet Choir. I have also been a member of the Concert Band (1 year), the Symphonic Band (3 years) and Mastery Band (1 year). Although band has been my main focus in the past four years I have participated in Intro to Theatre class and some musical theatre for the three out of the four years. This year, I also got to give back quite a bit with mentor lessons, middle school instrument testings and much more. Music has been my passion rather it be in band, singing or just listening to it. I have had the amazing opportunity to express and share inspiration, emotion and motivation that comes with creating music. That has been the true joy of playing music, it's not selfish or cruel, you bring so much joy and life to simple notes on a sheet of paper. My hope is to continue to create those emotional experiences with my music on my own time and in college.

E-Portfolio Link

https://sites.google.com/hallco.org/k-smallwood-band-portfolio/home

Video Reflection

https://youtu.be/_Ha21S2uDcQ