Twenty students in the Argyle band competed at the area meet at Argyle High School last Saturday, Jan. 12. Unlike marching band, where the whole band competes together, students at the area level compete individually. All over Texas, 1,980 students compete in the area competition, but only 290 students made it to all-state Band. Out of the twenty students who made the area level band, only seven students will continue onto all-state Band. Two students, Aric Kline and Nathan Little, earned a position in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band.

Advancing to the area level is an honor, but it takes a lot of practice you have to be willing to commit yourself.

“I Practiced a lot before and after school,” sophomore Reeves Moseley said.

During the day you have to sit in the same room as the people you’re competing against.

“The day went by with everyone auditioning for your instrument sitting in the same room together,” senior Ben Roney said. “People got pulled out one by one randomly for two rounds.”

Being nervous while playing for the judges can make the difference on whether you go to state or not.

“I was nervous,” Roney said,” but also confident because of the amount of practice I put in.”

Out of the twenty-nine students to compete for Argyle, two of them competed for 6A area.

“It feels a lot different than 4A does,” Senior Aric Kline said. “It’s fun, but there is a wider range in everything, the amount of music you have to play, the amount of people, the number of good players, and the number of auditions. I’d say that it can be fun, but it’s more intimidating. I think it was worth it though.”

In the end, all of the hard work leading up to the competition paid off.

“I was relieved when I saw that I made it again,” Kline said. “There were plenty of great players in that room. It was a weird audition for me, so I didn’t really think I would make it again.”

The all-state band students will meet for rehearsal from Feb. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas. On Feb. 14, the all-state band will present a concert.