instrumental music

faculty SPOTLIGHT

TIM PITCHFORD

Tim Pitchford, a native Floridian, lived and taught in Illinois for a decade before becoming Lovett’s Upper School Director of Bands and the Honors Ellington Jazz Ensemble Director. During his time in the midwest, he was the jazz progrm director and trombone professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, a private liveral arts college in Bloomington, IL. Under his direction, the IWU Jazz Ensemble performed for the 2014 Illinois Music Educator’s Conference and the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. Dr. Pitchford has served as a clinician for the Marshall University Jazz Fedtival, the Northwest Oklahoma University Jazz Festival, the Bradley University Jazz Festival, and the Illinois State University Jazz Festival. As a professional trombonist, he has performed with Arturo Sandoval, The Manhattan Transfer, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Patti Austin, Aretha Franklin, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and many others. From 2002-2005, he toured internationally with K.C. and the Sunshine Band. Dr. Pitchford holds degrees in jazz performance from University of North Florida, Georgia State University, and the University of Miami.

Upper School Band

The Upper School Band Program is a composite of the concert/symphonic band, jazz ensembles, woodwind, brass, and percussion ensembles. Members of the Upper School band are encouraged to study privately with Lovett’s Conservatory of Music faculty or local performing artists. Students are further encouraged to participate in select state and local honor groups, including the GMEA All-State Band, the GISA All-Select Band, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Metro Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble, the Rialto Jazz Orchestra, and other extracurricular performing ensembles. Members of the Ellington Jazz Ensemble are selected by audition. The Lovett Ellington Jazz Ensemble and Wind Symphony compete in national festivals and competitions.

Honors Ellington Jazz Ensemble

wind Ensemble

Middle School Band

The Lovett Middle School Bands perform numerous times throughout the year, including a holiday concert, the annual Prism Concert, the Lovett Jazz Festival, and at other venues. Students perform concert band literature, and in seventh and eighth grade begin a curriculum of jazz studies. The Middle School Bands have received superior ratings, sweepstakes honors, and outstanding soloist awards at numerous band festivals, as well as invitations to perform at the state music convention. They also have produced many All-State band students.

Eighth Grade Band

Seventh Grade Band

Sixth Grade Band

faculty SPOTLIGHT

Lynn King is the Middle School Band Director, who also assists with the Lower and Upper School Band programs. Mrs. King received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University. Before coming to Lovett, Mrs. King taught at Henderson Middle School for 11 years. At Lovett, Mrs. King is the Girls’ JV Tennis Coach and the Team Mom for the Varsity Swimming Team. She is also a freelance oboe player in Atlanta and plays with The Cobb Wind Symphony. Mrs. King is a guest clinician in many metro Atlanta schools. In addition, Mrs. King sits on the Board of Directors for the Dresden Elementary School Foundation; this foundation promotes improving literacy among students along the Buford Highway Corridor.

Born in Jacksonville, FL, Justin Varnes studied at the University of North Florida before moving to New York to study at the New School. In New York, he toured with Phoebe Snow, with whom he performed on the Roseanne Barr Show with Michael McDonald, Madison Square Garden, and NPR’s “World Café.” He regularly performs with his own quartet, was tapped for work as part of the Earl Klugh Trio, and is a top call sideman for touring artists throughout the Southeast. Justin has performed with Mose Allison, Wessell Anderson, Kenny Barron, Peter Bernstein, Don Braden, Ann Hampton Callaway, Five for Fighting, Gavin DeGraw, Victor Goines, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Herring, Kevin Hays, Kevin Mahogany, Tony Monaco, Marcus Printup, Bob Reynolds, Lew Soloff, David Sanchez, Ira Sullivan, Sachal Vasandani, and Jimmy Vivino. In addition to his career in performing, Justin teaches at Lovett and Georgia Tech, and is also heavily involved in teaching jazz to youth groups such as the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rialto Jazz for Kids, and Young Audiences. He also teaches and works with several national jazz programs, including Interplay Jazz & Arts and the Hilton Head Junior Jazz Foundation.

lower Fourth Band fifth band

Lower School Band

The Lovett Lower School Bands offer a unique experience for young instrumentalists. Students enjoy learning the techniques to perform in large and small ensembles. They begin their musical training in the fourth and fifth grades. The bands perform a holiday concert in December, participate in a spring concert in March, and play for the Lower School in May. Some band students have played their instruments in the annual talent show, chapel services, and some school musicals and other school events.