Some Statesboro High School band students competed for a seat in the GMEA (Georgia Music Educators Association) District 1 Honor Band on Saturday, December 10, at South Effingham High School. These students included Spencer Boyum, Percussion; Tyler Blythe, Trumpet; Emory D'Arcangelo, Clarinet; Sean Eggleston, Tenor Saxophone; and Mason Thompson, Trumpet.
At their Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 13, the directors acknowledged these five students, who all placed 3rd chair or higher in the competition. Four of the five students were selected to move to the second round of the All-State Band, as well. The directors are especially proud of their senior student, Spencer Boyum, for placing 1st chair in percussion.
These students auditioned for the honor band alongside more than 500 other high school students from 15 surrounding counties. SHS Band Director Lee Collins and Assistant Band Director Sergio Arreguin are proud of their students' bravery and resilience at this competition.
"We're proud of all of our students for putting in the work. We guide them, but most of the time at this level, they're grinding it out on their own. It speaks volumes of them and their ability to go forth at that high level of achievement."
Sergio Arreguin
"I'm extremely proud of these students. It's very nerve racking at their age and extremely impressive for them to perform in front of two complete strangers and be able to control their nerves. It shows how mature these students are, not just musicians, but as human beings. And we're extremely excited to know that these students are going to lead us on after they graduate to do great things."
Lee Collins
Preparation for honor band competition
Statesboro High has two levels of bands in this program: Concert and Advanced Ensemble (Symphonic Winds).
The students who register to compete for the district honor band prep for an audition to be held on the second Saturday of December every year. The directors work with the students and hone their musical skills to help them achieve placement in the competition.
"We work on playing scales from memory; depending on their grade level, it's a different amount. They have to play a chromatic scale, which is all their notes on their instrument. They prepare an etude, which is a short song put out by the GMEA. They do a sight reading for that; they have 30 seconds to study it, and then they have to perform that piece for us."
Lee Collins
"For percussionists, the difference is that they audition on three instruments at the same time: snare, marimba, and timpani, which is what's entailed to become a percussionist at that level."
Sergio Arreguin, who directs the percussion group of students who are in the drumline.
The 2023 GMEA All-State Band will perform at the Classic Center in Athens on March 2-4. To follow the Statesboro High School band social media, visit Facebook and Instagram.
