The 18th annual Longwood Honors Jazz Ensemble and the 22nd annual Honors Concert Band performances will be held this Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 pm in Jarman Auditorium on the Longwood University campus. Over 100 outstanding musicians representing 11 area high schools will combine to form these ensembles under the direction of Longwood University Department of Music faculty members Dr. Charles Kinzer and Dr. Gordon Ring.

Featured saxophone soloist with both groups will be Thomas Sisson, Longwood class of 2000. A native of northern Virginia, Thomas took his music degree and turned it into more than a decade of music instruction both public and private, performances, and service in the music retail world. Thomas has had the privilege to share the stage with such musical legends as Maceo Parker, Bob Mintzer, Eddie Cornelius, Fred Wesley, John Ellis, and Roy Clark. After completing a master's degree at East Carolina University, Thomas is currently living in Greenville, NC, where he manages a music store chain during the daytime while also carrying a large private lesson studio. Then at night he performs with several local bands playing music ranging from straight ahead jazz, to funk, to beach music.

The Honors Jazz Ensemble will perform works by Duke Ellington, Gordon Goodwin, Miles Davis and Bill Chase, including two works which will feature Thomas Sisson. In addition to The Carnival of Venice featuring Sisson again, the Concert Band will also perform works by Frank Ticheli, Beethoven, W. Francis McBeth, and John Philip Sousa. A special feature will be The Hubble Space Telescope, which will feature a space video displayed in synchronization with the band.

Participating schools and their directors include Appomattox County High School, Bryan Allgood; Buckingham County High School, Danielle Minnick; Central-Lunenburg High School, Maurice Ellis; Cumberland County High School, Micah Lee; Fork Union Military Academy, Bruce Patterson; Fuqua School, Camille Rabon; Goochland County High School, Mark Givens; Halifax County High School, Stephen Harmon; Nottoway County High School, Catherine Hite; Prince Edward County High School, Jeffrey Lazenby; and Randolph-Henry High School, Derek Ramsey.

Admission to the concert is free and the public is invited to hear these fine high school musicians.