Community members are invited to attend the Stanislaus County Music Festival on Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Modesto Junior College Auditorium. The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday with the high school and junior high school Honor Choir. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, the high school and junior high school Honor Orchestra will perform, with the festival concluding Saturday evening with the high school and junior high school Honor Band performing at 7 p.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: Amanda Isaac/Junior High Honor Choir; Christopher Borges/High School Honor Choir; David Poteet/Junior High Honor Orchestra; Zachary Bruno/High School Honor Orchestra; Ella Webb/Junior High Honor Band; and Andy Collinsworth/High School Honor Band.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Stanislaus County Music Educators Association and Gottschalk Music Centers co-sponsor this annual event. Students from the following local schools are slated to participate:

High School: Beyer, Central Valley, Ceres, Delhi, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Hughson, Johansen, Modesto, Oakdale, Patterson, Pitman, Riverbank, Turlock Christian, Turlock, Valley Charter, and Waterford.

Junior High/Middle School: Blaker-Kinser Junior High, Cesar Chavez Junior High, Creekside Middle, Dutcher Middle, La Loma Junior High, Mark Twain Junior High, Prescott Junior High, Roosevelt Junior High, Emilie J. Ross Middle, Salida Middle, Daniel Savage Middle, Somerset Middle, Turlock Christian Junior High, Turlock Junior High, and Ustach Middle School.