After months of preparation, the time had finally come for All-State guitarists to showcase their talent. Six Heritage students attended Florida Music Association’s All-State Guitar Convention, held in Tampa Jan. 8-10.
Sophomores Jordyn Kurlander, Ian Laor and Matthew Garbarino, juniors Grant Sizemore and Jacob Kasner and senior Sarah Ham all qualified for the convention back in November to play alongside thirty-four other student qualifiers.
To kick off the convention, the qualifiers had to attend a two-hour rehearsal Tuesday night, followed by another eight-hour rehearsal session the next day. Thursday consisted of a similar schedule, with a four-hour rehearsal block in the morning and a performance for the group around midday.
Since the convention was the first time all forty students could practice together, all fourteen hours of rehearsal went into a thirty-minute performance that consisted of six pieces.
“It was an incredible experience. Overall, it was a great way to meet other guitarists from around the state,” Sizemore said. “You learn a lot more than you typically would in a normal guitar class. You just learn by playing, and I enjoy that more than just reading music.”
