All-State Audition

  The most stressful part of the year has come and passed with a great sense of accomplishment. I’m talking about All-State Auditions. 

What is All-State? All-State is an honor band that is the toughest and most honorable to get selected for. High school musicians work for three months, August to the end of October, preparing music picked out by a panel of musicians. This music is supposed to be challenging so it eliminates some of the weaker players. There are three different groups that different people try out for depending on their instrument or voice: band, choir, and orchestra. Obviously singers try out for the choir, string instruments are going for orchestra, and wind instruments, band. The best group, my personal favorite, is the band. I love to play in band and wouldn’t dare try out on anything other than saxophone. However, wind players are sometimes accepted into orchestra to create a full orchestra. These players are usually brass and are the best of the best. In other words, even better than the band players. However, no saxophones play in orchestra so band is the top honor.

  This year I tried out on Bari Sax. To make All-State I had to play excerpts from a selection of two different etudes, I had to play scales (which are memorized and chosen randomly), as well as a solo of my choice. This year I was more prepared than any other year. I had my etudes mastered and scales known since 6th grade. The biggest spot that I felt even better prepared for was my solo. This year I played Introduction et Danse by Henri Tomasi. My solo was probably the key to getting into All-State. 
         When it was my turn to play for the judge, I stepped into the room and let my confidence spill all over the room. I took my spot behind the stand and started. As soon as I hit that first note and cadenza that followed I knew the judge was impressed. After I had finished my solo I wondered if there was any need to even touch the other material. But the audition went as planned and I played my scales and etudes wonderfully. Walking out of that room I knew I would have a spot in the All-State band of 2014. 

After my audition, I had to wait an agonizing hour for the piece of paper to be posted that would announce  my fate. I remember walking into the gym and seeing a man walk over to the ladder with a blue sheet of paper. Every step he climbed, I felt like an elephant was starting to sit on my chest. He reached the top, stuck the paper to the wall, and let it roll out. The paper got stuck, so it took an agonizing time to see. I looked up and saw my name printed under the accepted column and felt all the tension leave my body. I made it! My dad came running over to me and hugged me with a pressure only fathers can give. I was filled with joy as my dad started to cry. I had done it! I had done it for my grandpa. As he looks down on me from heaven I know he is proud. He gave me the strength and ability to completely blow the judge away. 

I can finally relax and let the stress of the week pass through me. I made it and can’t wait to experience a whole new adventure! Mr. Wacker told me, “You have more work now…it’s time to prepare for chair auditions next!”