Twenty-seven young musicians within the Thomas County Schools system outplayed the majority to earn seats in a program that honors the region’s most promising talent.

Thomas County Central High School Bands program had 22 musicians and Thomas County Middle School Bands program had five musicians accepted into Georgia Music Educators Association All South Region Honor Bands.

“I’m very, very proud of them,” TCCHS Bands Director Michael Thomas said. “We are more than represented and that says a lot about our students. Their level of musicality has greatly expanded. The important idea of auditioning is to give our students experience in working toward a higher caliber level, which pushes their musicality and growth.”

Auditions for GMEA Georgia All State Bands in January determined who was selected for “All South.” Students selected for the region honor band already earned spots in GMEA District 2 Honor Band (DHB) during the first round of “All State” auditions last December.

Preparations began at the beginning of the school year, Thomas said. Every student was given the materials and helped in classes, individually and after school by all band instructors.

The TCCHS region band acceptances include: Bret Hendricks (flute), Beth Sharpe (oboe), Zarah Varney (clarinet), Caitlin Simmons (clarinet), Austin Kelley (baritone saxophone), Eli Kosciw (trumpet), Justin Strickland (trumpet), Maria Davis (trumpet), Lillie Horton (French horn), Kendra Anderson (French horn), Logan Leik (trombone), Chandler Watson (trombone), Gabriel Nieves (trombone), Caitlyn Atkinson (flute), Eric Webb (bassoon), Ann Guo (clarinet), Chelsey Lawler (clarinet), Mackenzie Sellers (trumpet), Meredith Hurst (trumpet), Olivia Osgatharp (trombone), Michelle Cumbest (euphonium) and Caleb Moore (tuba).

“I decided to try out for region band because it shows me where I place against other schools in my region,” sophomore Olivia Osgatharp, 16, said. “It helps me improve my ability on the trombone and shows me where my mistakes are.”

Senior Caitlin Simmons, whose DHB score secured her spot, said earning this honor means she has come a long way in band. She made DHB last year and this year.

“This will look great for me when I attend Valdosta State University in the fall because I wish to be a part of their marching band,” Simmons said.

Making region was “exhilarating” for sophomore Eric Webb, 16, who’s proud of himself for achieving such an accomplishment.

“I feel pretty great about winning,” Webb said. “Although I made it, there is still much room for improvement.”

Thomas County Middle School had five musicians selected to participate in “All South.” The TCMS chosen participants include: Karsyn Bush (clarinet), Taylor Stegall (clarinet), Kayla Cain (clarinet), Deep Patel (trombone) and Hunter Cosper (euphonium).

"Our students went through two rounds of auditions in order to make the region honor band,” TCMS Band Director William Majors explained. “They had to prepare four major scales, the chromatic scale, both a lyrical and technical etude, as well as audition on a total of three sight-reading selections."

Majors added students began preparing for auditions as early as August and “these kids went above and beyond with extra practice to master the skills necessary to successfully make both the district and region honor bands.”

TCMS Band Director Lynn Wise assisted students by working with them on audition scales and music in class, before school, and in after school rehearsals. She also put audio files of the music on her teacher website so students could access them for home practice. Her favorite part of the experience is seeing the look on her students’ faces when she tells them of their accomplishment.

Hunter Cosper, who was “shocked” when he first made DHB, was motivated to care more about band and to push toward being selected for “All State.” Though he did not make the cut, Cosper did earn the region first chair for his instrument.

“I never knew I could get this far,” the eighth-grader said. “Everything changed once I actually started paying attention to band. At first I did it for fun, but now it means something even more to me.”

Seventh-grader Karsyn Bush practiced “A LOT” and asked questions “on anything that I needed to!” By being accepted to the region honor band, Bush hopes she will “be respected more as a musician.”

“I hope that people will see that I love music and that I will try my hardest to continue on the path of being a great musician,” she said.

GMEA All South Region Honor Bands will be held at Valdosta State University in April.

Osgatharp believes the best part of region band is “being able to play new music that challenges me.”

“The thing I look forward to most is the music pieces,” she said. “They start off bad, but after several hours the band is able to play and sound professional on the pieces. Being able to play new music that challenges me is the best part about region band.”

Senior Lillie Horton, who has participated in region band for several years, said it is “always an enjoyable experience.”

“The music is fun to sight-read, and being able to play it with people I do not know is exciting,” Horton said. “The experience from it makes me more eager for my future music career.”

Cosper looks forward “to the new music and new challenges.”

“This will make me a better band player and hopefully I will one day become a conductor,” he said. “That is my biggest dream.”