A trio of promising student musicians played just the right notes at a recent statewide audition.

Thomas County Central High School band students Meredith Hurst, Caleb Moore and Eric Webb earned seats on the prestigious Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band.

“I feel being selected for this band is a huge honor,” Meredith Hurst said. “Not only do I get to represent my school, [but] I get to represent me. This means that I can do anything I set my mind to and that anything is possible.”

Approximately 2,000 student musicians from around the state – including 27 from TCCHS – auditioned for the band on Saturday, Jan. 6. These students first had to secure a position on the district level during tryouts that were held in late 2017, explains TCCHS Bands Director Michael Thomas. Only students with the highest scores were selected to continue to the next round, all-state. TCCHS had 52 musicians audition at district with 29 of these recommended to all-state auditions.

“At the second round level there are a set number of instrumental positions for each section of the bands,” he said. “These positions are all assigned by highest score until positions are filled.”

Thomas calls the entire all-state process a “demanding” one that “serves as a series of rigorous steps toward building musicianship” for students who accept the challenge. Students also learn and gain experience in skills like commitment, process planning/evaluation, time management and team management.

“In short, the all-state process is a skills and character building experience of the highest form,” Thomas said.

Junior Caleb Moore auditioned on the tuba because he’s been successful with the instrument and loves “the tone and color of the sound that the instrument produces.” He made all-state last year as a sophomore.

“I feel accomplished to have been selected for the second year,” Moore said. “This selection, to me, is a sign of growth and maturity in my journey as a musician.”

Moore prepared for the audition with a method he calls “Play and Reassessment.”

“This method involves me recording myself playing [and] then listening back to the recording, assessing the things I could do better and practicing accordingly,” he explains.

Sophomore Meredith Hurst auditioned on the trumpet and set a high goal for herself: she made all-state in eighth grade and was determined to make it again.

“Since I made it before, I knew that I had to work extra hard for me to make it again,” Hurst said. “To prepare for this audition, all that I could do was practice, practice, practice. I had to break the etudes down into small sections, buzz to get better tone, and sight read every little thing that I could get my hands on.”

Junior Eric Webb auditioned on the bassoon.

“I wanted to audition for all-state band because it is the highest level of band that a high school student can audition for but also the most difficult since the player is competing against players from the entire state,” he said. “I knew that, whether or not I made it, the experience would make me a better musician.”

His audition was to play two prepared etudes, one lyrical and the other technical, along with sight reading two passages. Webb says he took the audition’s difficulty seriously. He practiced almost daily for a set period of time and also benefited from a few private instruction lessons.

“I'm very happy and excited to have been selected for all state band,” Webb said. “To me, it means that dedication and hard work really pays off.”

TCCHS Bands Assistant Director Paul Johns is extremely proud of the three who made all-state and of all the students who auditioned.

“I think they all furthered their musicianship by auditioning,” he said. “To me, the entire point of this audition is to improve in the process. Practicing the material makes all of those who audition better musicians.”

GMEA All-State Band will be held March 1-3 in Athens. Final concerts will be held March 3 at the Classic Center on the University of Georgia campus.

Webb looks forward to making new friends who love music as he does and learning from them. He also anticipates playing new music and his first trip to Athens.

Hurst hopes to gain more knowledge about composers, conductors and instruments that she can pass along to others. She wants to learn and hear new music and make new friends.

Moore looks forward to his return trip, including spending time with his classmates.

“I hope to gain a greater sense of musicianship so that I can return to Thomasville to impart the knowledge I have gained to my fellow musicians,” he said.

Thomas encourages other experienced youth musicians to accept the challenge and audition for all-state next year. The consistent pursuit of students’ skills growth and developing their musical potential is a big motivator for the TCCHS Bands program and directly influences the overall band, Thomas continues.

“Our students have done very well, and I am proud of each participating student’s growth,” he said. “We still await the results from Region Honor Band that will be out next week and no doubt will find many TCC musicians included as the positions for region are dependent and tied to the all-state auditions. Our students simply are giving their best within the 'Best of the Nest’."