Through Jan. 22 to Jan. 24, students Audrey Mooney (10) and Jesse Reinhardt (12) headed up to Mercer school district for District Band. They qualified for the festival through an audition. There, they were able to meet with students from other school districts who qualified and practiced to be a part of the combined band.
On Jan. 22, students had to participate in an audition to establish which position and chair they would be. Being first chair, for example, means that that person is playing the highest part and in the rank is referred to as section leader. This is the best position an instrumentalist can receive. There are also multiple people playing each part. It is very important for students to try their best, and there is an air of competition throughout the audition room. Students audition via a blind audition and receive the results the same day.
Students will also begin rehearsals for the concert. Students are given the music beforehand, and they are encouraged to both look at and practice the music. The rehearsal gives students a chance to become accustomed to what the piece sounds like when a full concert band is playing it. It can be a different experience, because students are only used to hearing themselves playing it.
For some, it’s their last year to participate in District band.
“I’m so ready, it was a good run and I’m done,” Reinhardt said.
On Jan. 23, students came together and practiced the pieces for their concert. They also met their guest conductor, who is new every year and is usually involved in helping out with Pennsylvania Music Educator Association (PMEA) events.
On Jan. 24, the concert took place. The pieces that were played during the concert were “Spirit of Hope,” “Loch Lomond,” “Courtly Airs and Dances,” “Ae Fond Kiss,” “His Honor,” “PMEA March” and the “Star Spangled Banner.” The PMEA March is an important piece that is played at every PMEA event, and is the anthem of the organization. The Star Spangled Banner is also always played, and is a staple part of every concert performed under the PMEA organization.
“My favorite part about District Band was the unique writing for the horn. We actually had the melody sometimes,” Mooney said. “If I could have done anything differently, I would’ve practiced more for the audition because the District Band audition affects placement for Region Band and then All-State Band.”
If the school district was far enough away from Mercer, students would have stayed overnight at a hotel nearby. Freedom, however, did not stay at a hotel despite the long travel time.
“I chose not to stay at a hotel because I asked Jesse and Audie if they wanted to stay over and they said absolutely not,” Ms. Julia Lawrence, 5-12 band director, said.