South Effingham High School student Taylor Yarbrough was part of an elite performance during the Georgia Music Educators Association’s recent conference at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

Yarbrough was one of only 20 students from throughout Georgia to perform in the 2015 GMEA all-state jazz band. He was featured on his trumpet.

Yarbrough was named to the District 1 honor band as well as the all-state band. Students who meet a minimum score requirement at the district honor band audition are invited to audition for the selective all-state band, made up of the top high school players in the state.

The honor band audition consists of four scales, a prepared piece for wind players or snare drum rudiments for percussionists, and sight reading. The top-scoring students from the district are selected to participate in the honor band, which meets in the spring for a three-day clinic in Savannah.

Yarbrough has been under the direction of Sean McBride during his years at SEHS and Rachael Miller during his senior year. Yarbrough plans to graduate from college with a degree in music education and follow in the footsteps of McBride, his mentor.