UK Sophomore Named to SEC Student Music Ensemble for Football Championship Weekend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Nov. 20, 2017) — The 2017 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Football Championship weekend will feature the return of the SEC Student Music Ensemble. Six SEC students, including saxophone performance sophomore Kirby Davis, of Greenville, Kentucky, will play as part of a jazz combo that will perform Friday night at the SEC Legends Dinner presented by AT&T and Saturday at the SEC Pregame Hospitality Party.
“The SEC Student Music Ensemble is a great opportunity for student musicians to get to know their counterparts at other SEC universities,” said David D’Angelo, lecturer of jazz studies at the University of Georgia and ensemble director. “Since time is limited, students have to quickly learn how to function at a high level with new players in different surroundings.”
Students were nominated by their universities for demonstrating award-winning competence in a range of music genres. The ensemble’s performances throughout the weekend will focus on jazz music.
Aside from performing, students will have the opportunity to attend the Dr Pepper SEC FanFare and the SEC Football Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The musicians will be recognized for their efforts following their performance at the SEC Legends Dinner presented by AT&T and during Saturday’s game.
“The students know they are not only representing their universities, but also the music programs at all SEC universities,” said D’Angelo.
Below are the members of the 2017 SEC Student Music Ensemble.
- Pate Brunner, Auburn University, on drums;
- Kirby Davis, University of Kentucky, on tenor saxophone;
- Sam Edwards, University of South Carolina, on bass;
- Lazarrus Miller, University of Mississippi, on piano;
- Jim Shaw, Auburn University, on trombone; and
- Mason Soudelier, Louisiana State University, on alto saxophone.
Davis, who is also a member of the Lewis Honors College, studies with Miles Osland, professor of saxophone and director of Jazz Studies at the School of Music in the UK College of Fine Arts.
“I’m not surprised Kirby was selected for this honor,” said Osland, who nominated Davis for the ensemble. “He is one of the finest students I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in over 25 years of doing what I do.”