Goose Creek High 11th grader Harrison Chandler has been selected for the South Carolina Band Director’s Association Honors Jazz Combo for 2024. He will perform at the South Carolina Music Educator Association’s professional development conference in February.
Chandler is one of three Berkeley County School District students who were selected for this highly-coveted eight-member ensemble. Read full story here.
This opportunity is open to exceptional state high school jazz students who undergo a rigorous audition process, including performing two jazz solos to demonstrate their improvisations skills.
The ensemble is comprised of one alto sax, one tenor sax, one trumpet, trombone, vibraphone, keyboard, drum set, and a bass player.
Chandler has played the alto sax for about six years, starting in fifth grade. He studied music at Marrington Middle School of the Arts as well.
“I’ve always wanted to play the saxophone,” Chandler said, adding he remembers being hooked by video of a saxophonist when he was in elementary school. “From then on, in fourth grade, I always knew I wanted to play the saxophone. There’s no other instrument that I really wanted to play.”
Chandler is a very active band student at Goose Creek High, where he joined the jazz band his freshman year. Jazz band has subsequently become his favorite music to perform.
“It’s a very expressive kind of music, and it’s very serious at the same time,” Chandler said. “You kind of just get to make up your own emotions, and make other people feel happy with what you can play. There’s just so much intricate details into playing and practicing.”
Since joining band, Chandler said he has enjoyed connecting with his fellow classmates and growing as both a musician and a student.
“It definitely teaches you how to talk to people,” he said. “You’re around different kinds of people, but you’re all playing an instrument, so you all have something in common to do together, and it’s very fun,” he said.
While very humbled, Chandler is excited to join the other seven members of the jazz ensemble in February.
“I’ve never experienced something like this, so that’s why it’s even more important to me,” he said, adding, “I love jazz, and being able to play with other people my age…is very fun.”
All students selected for the ensemble will convene on Feb. 10 for an intensive rehearsal session led by distinguished college director and former Goose Creek High alumni, Dr. David Carter.
Goose Creek High is very familiar with Dr. Carter; he has visited the school many times to work with the band students.
Tyler Holliday, director of bands for Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High, said the school is lucky to have a well-rounded student like Chandler.
“Harrison is just one of those kids that works really hard and has that natural talent, and when you have those combinations together, it is…the best thing,” he said, adding that Chandler has really evolved during his time with the band. “I think what makes Harrison really outstanding as a band student is his work ethic. He really is just a star human – he not only is a fantastic musician, he’s a really great friend who cares about people.”