Tune up and tune it because October 17 BAHS band students travelled to Grove City College for their PMEA Honors Band Auditions.

Seven students from Beaver Area auditioned: sophomore horn player Kaylee Seevers, senior tuba player Ezra Maize, sophomore flute player Anna Mateer, freshman bari sax player Jason Godwin, junior oboe player Owen Bowders, senior tuba player Josh Dahma, and freshman euphonium player Ethan Tolbert.

Students took time to practice their music so that they would be able to perform their best for their auditions, from receiving the music, practicing independently, and working with sight reading.

“I am very pleased with all of our students who participated in this audition! They had to prepare and perform a difficult piece of solo music for a panel of judges. Our students represented Beaver Area in proud fashion,” stated Band Director Mr. J.P. Scanga.

First, students waited outside the audition room, waiting for their turn to audition.

Then, students would go in to the audition room, with the judges’ backs to them, and perform their prepared solos and a difficult sight reading piece.

After their auditions, students returned to the auditorium and nervously waited the results.

There was about three hours of waiting until the results were posted on the board.

Students crowded around trying to find out if they qualified and what chair placement they received.

“We auditioned at Grove City College, which has a beautiful campus. Once we arrived we received instructions for auditions and went with our group of instruments to audition on a solo we’ve had months to prepare. Beaver Area had an outstanding group of musicians this year and five out of seven that auditioned made the band! As a three-year returning member, it was very nice to see that,” shared Dahma.

Seevers, Maize, Bowders, Dahma, and Tolbert were the five Beaver Area students who qualified and are able to attend the Honors Band Festival December 12-14.

Tolbert shared, “for the difficulty of it all, I would say that’s it’s probably the hardest thing that I’ve ever done musically. I believe that it pushed me to heights I couldn’t have even imagined a year ago. While it’s very difficult, it’s also very rewarding. The rush of seeing that I got into the band was crazy! I actually jumped into the air and cheered after seeing the results!”

Dahma added: “I am really looking forward to this festival and the success of the younger students around me.”

Congratulations and amazing job to all who represented the Beaver Area Music Department.