Talented Holy Innocents' Musicians Make 'All State'

The Georgia Music Educators Assocation (GMEA) has accepted Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School (HIES) junior Clarisa Colton into All State Orchestra as a cellist. And juniors Ben Davies and Zain Bashey (clarinet), and sophomore Saffy Bashey (oboe) will play in the All State Band.

News of these All State honors follows the recent GMEA Solo Ensemble competitions in which every participant of the Holy Innocents’ Lower, Middle, and Upper School bands and orchestras earned a “Superior” from the judges, the highest possible rating.

“Clarisa has such a gift for music that she’s now a regular in these top-notch groups,” said Elizabeth Lamback, Middle and Upper School orchestra director. “She’ll head up to Athens in March to join the ‘cream-of-the-crop’ for an intense weekend of rehearsals and concerts.”

Mike Glaze, Upper School band director, points out that All State auditions are challenging and competitive. “Thousands of musicians across the state audition for these spots, and only a select few even make it past the district level auditions,” said Glaze. “Ben, Saffy, and Zain have so much talent and they’re reaping the rewards of all their hard work.”

The talented band students will also head to Athens in March to join an elite group of band musicians from across the state. Both the band and orchestra are under the auspices of the GMEA, one of 51 state affiliates of the National Association for Music Education.