On Dec. 8, three students from band and orchestra traveled to Pittsburgh, Texas to audition for the ATSSB All-Region Band.

The people who auditioned were seniors Jordan Blanks, Mackenzie Cavanaugh and Jacob Stone.

All-region is extremely competitive for most students because they go up against hundreds of talented musicians from different schools and districts. They are also challenging themselves as a musician. Each student auditioning for the band spends countless hours practicing and making sure their performance is perfect.

“I take private lessons from a college professor once a week in Shreveport and practice my oboe on my own regularly,” Blanks said.

While auditioning can be nerve racking, attending all-region can also be fun and exciting.

“My favorite part is making new friends with so many talented musicians,” Stone said.

There are many bene ts when it comes to participating in all-region. There are numerous amounts of scholarship opportunities, it
gives students confidence, and shows them responsibility.

“All-region really helps you grow as a musician,” Cavanaugh said. “You tend to play music that is exceptionally harder than normal music you play in an ensemble.”

Band director Cliffton Walker believes that All- Region allows students to face diffcult music.

“The preparation process for all-region can bene t all students. Whether they attend the audition or not, putting yourself through the paces of learning scales and dif cult etudes raises

the level of musicianship,” Walker said. Each student handles pressure and nerves

differently, but these students know they are there to prove what they are capable of.

Throughout the years, especially the seniors have learned to handle their nerves and push them off
to the side.

“I always get very nervous sitting in school just waiting, but I always trust that my practice will do me justice,” Cavanaugh said.

While all-region teaches students and shows them new experiences, it can also teach instructors. It can teach them that there are different ways to comfort and calm students before they walk into the audition room.

“I always suggest that the students focus on something other than all the other hundreds
of students warming up. It can become overwhelming and cause anxiety. Find a quiet place, button through the music and relax before your time to audition,” Walker said.

In addition to auditioning for the Region IV Honor Band, students are able to advance to Area. If that is the case, they are able to audition and hopefully make the All-State band.

Before getting a chair in the All-State band, students need to practice even more.

If Blanks makes it to the state level, she plans to prepare herself even more.

“I’ll take out more time to practice and get rid of nerves,” Blanks said.

Fortunately, all three seniors advanced to Area and will audition Jan. 12.

On Jan. 25, students will travel to White Oak High School for the All-Region clinic.

Their performance will start at 6:00 p.m. the following day.