On February 9-10 four Hurricane Band students participated in the GMEA District IV Honor Band held at Stephenson High School.  In December, students auditioned among over 1000 students from Dekalb, Rockdale, Newton, Butts, Morgan, and Jasper Counties to earn a spot in one of three honor bands, the Middle School band, the 9-10 grade band and the 11-12 grade band.  Kaitlyn Harvey (8), Julia Aldridge (9), Tyler Aldridge (12), and Avery Jacobs (11) all scored high enough to be selected as members for the  2017-2018 school year. 

Three Hurricane Band members spent the weekend of January 18-22 in Athens, GA participating in the 68th annual University of Georgia January High School Music Festival (Janfest).  Julia Aldridge, Tyler Aldridge, and Avery Jacobs were selected from JCHS to be among over 1000 high school band students from around the state.  After auditioning for band placement Thursday afternoon, students spent the rest of the weekend rehearsing in one of 8 different bands directed by guest conductors, attending concerts by UGA and high school ensembles, including a guest high school band from Japan, attending masterclasses with UGA music professors, and finally presenting concerts of their own on Sunday.  The students did very well on their auditions and each placed very high in their respective bands, as each was at the top of their section: Avery Jacobs was first chair percussion, Julia Aldridge was second chair euphonium, and Tyler Aldridge was third chair trumpet.