On January 27, Davie County High School hosted the all-district band auditions, which allowed middle school and high school students to audition for the all-district band. All district bands are composed of the top students of each instrument in the entire district. If a student is chosen for all-district they will go to Lenior-Rhyne University for four days where they will learn new pieces and exhibit their skills in one final performance.
Eligible band students spent a lot of time preparing for these auditions in many different ways. Some students drilled the songs at home, some visited band teacher Matthew Brusseau in Flex, and some practiced mainly in class. Sophomore Cody White had his own approach to preparing for the auditions.
“I broke the music into musical phrases, and I practiced each one and slowly put them together,” says White.
For some students, though, there can be such a thing as too much practice, as senior Aubrey Lucas relates.
“I feel like in high school when I would warm up before auditioning, I would play too much because I’d stress out and then I’d be like freaking out. And then I do a lot worse just because I used like two hours straight to practice, so definitely don’t practice too much.”
Before going into the audition room, students experienced both excitement and fear but also the desire to persevere.
“I’m most nervous about auditioning itself,” senior Erin Fincher notes before her audition. “I’m scared I’m going to mess up. But I’m excited that I might make it.”
After auditioning, students were at ease that the most pressured portion had ended. But for some students, the feelings they were experiencing were for a different reason. Many students at Davie participate in the band program all four years of high school. One of the students is senior Kadence Lynch. While having many memories, Lynch communicates that the band program is like a family.
“Even if people are a bit competitive, we’re always willing to help each other and grow all together.”
Davie High School All-District Band
Ariana Fletcher – 2nd Chair 9/10 Bassoon (All State Eligible)
Erik Pope – 2nd Chair 9/10 Clarinet (All State Eligible)
Ethan Diemer – 6th Chair 9/10 Trumpet
Zach Hirata – 2nd Alternate 9/10 Timpani
Lena Parsley – 10th Chair 9-12 Clarinet
Kate Wilson – 13th Chair 9-12 Clarinet
Porter Spann – 2nd Alternate 9-12 Clarinet
Katie Pitts – 4th Chair 9-12 Bass Clarinet
Bradd Mendoza – 5th Chair 9-12 French Horn
Tyler Oldham – 1st Alternate 9-12 Euphonium
Randy McGee – 6th Chair 9-12 Tuba
Brayden Brooks – 4th Chair 9-12 Flute
Bailey Schultze – 3rd Alternate 9-12 Oboe
Earnhardt Harris – 1st Alternate 9-12 Bassoon
Spencer Melton – 5th Chair 9-12 Clarinet
Nate Robison – 2nd Alternate 9-12 Alto Saxophone
Karon Yount – 1st Alternate 9-12 Bari Saxophone
Barrett Taylor – 2nd Chair 9-12 French Horn
Silas Marion – 1st Alternate 9-12 Trombone
Dylan Hanes – 1st Alternate 9-12 Mallets
Sean Lane – 1st Chair 11/12 Timpani (All State Eligible)
Abby Wilson – 14th Chair 11/12 Clarinet
