Community members are invited to attend the Stanislaus County Music Festival on Friday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Modesto Junior College Auditorium. The festival will begin with high school and junior high school Honor Choir performing at 7p.m. on Friday. The high school and junior high school Honor Orchestra will perform at 2p.m. on Saturday with the festival concluding Saturday evening with the high school and junior high school Honor Band performing at 7p.m. There is no charge for admission.

Each year, outstanding guest conductors work with an honor band, choir, and orchestra (students are recommended by their music teachers) to prepare for the performances. Students learn the music and rehearse together. This year’s guest conductors include Julie Dana for Junior High Choir, Jeff Seward for High School Choir, David Poteet for Junior High Honor Orchestra, Dr. Thomas Lowenheim for High School Honor Orchestra, Dr. Timothy Anderson for Junior High Honor Band, and Dr. Gary P. Gilroy for High School Honor Band.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education, Stanislaus County Music Educators Association, and Gottschalk Music Centers co-sponsor this annual event.

Students from the following high schools are slated to participate: Oakdale, Beyer, California Connection Academy, Central Valley, Ceres, Denair, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Hughson, Johnasen, Modesto, Pitman, Turlock, Turlock Christian, Valley Charter, Waterford, and Whitmore Charter.

Students from the following junior high/middle schools are slated to participate: Oakdale Junior High, Blaker-Kinser Junior High, Cesar Chavez Junior High, Creekside Middle, Dutcher Middle, Grace Lutheran, Hart-Ransom Charter, Hart-Ransom, Hickman Charter, La Loma Junior High, Mark Twain Junior High, Our Lady of Fatima, Roosevelt Junior High, Emilie J. Ross Middle, Salida Middle, Daniel Savage Middle, Somerset Middle, Turlock Junior High, and Ustach Middle.