Three Britton Middle School students will be headed for Fresno
next week to play with the 2006 California All-State Junior High
School Honor Band.
Three Britton Middle School students will be headed for Fresno next week to play with the 2006 California All-State Junior High School Honor Band.
Five students from the school auditioned for spots in the band, and three were selected: Nick Hightower, Emily Mandel and Eric Tolson.
The honor band convenes during the annual convention of the California Band Directors Association. This year’s convention will be held Feb. 16-19. The honor band will be led by guest conductor Cynthia Hutton, PhD., from Southern Oregon University.
Britton Principal Russom Mesfun said he is proud of all five students who auditioned, and that the three students selected are “fine examples of what our students here at Britton are capable of achieving.”
The honors band is composed of 200 students selected from approximately 600 applicants this year. The students selected will spend two days in rehearsals before performing a formal concert on Saturday evening.
“I feel more confident in myself,” Nick said after his selection. “I’m surprised at how well I did. I’m feeling really good about it.”
Emily pointed out that being judged individually for their musical ability was a unique experience.
“It was good to find out that I could be selected, because when you play in a band, sometimes you don’t really know how good you are,” she said.
Eric said he was surprised to be selected, given the number of people competing for spots.
“To be selected out of 600 people, I’m glad I made it,” he said. “I think I’ve become more responsible.”
