Months of practice finally paid off after several students in the Upper School Band and Orchestra earned top rankings at the Texas Private School Music Educators Assocation’s (TPSMEA) All-State and All-Region Competitions, where private school music students auditioned for a limited number of spots in their acclaimed ensembles.
There are two bands in the Upper School: the concert band and the jazz band. Sophomore Jordan Envani made All-State Jazz, junior Mihir Tare and senior Eric Zhang made All-State Concert and senior Oliver Geheb and freshman Cyrus Saberan made All-Region.
“For jazz band, there are three set pieces that (applicants) work on as a group,” band director Analisa Bergeron said. “For concert band, it is similar to orchestra. There are two sets of etudes, a lyrical one and a fast one.”
Students in both band and orchestra were given the audition music months in advance. They practiced their music individually at home for months, recorded them and then submitted their recordings to their respective levels. The directors also hired other teachers for private lessons.
“The auditions are easier than public school because there are fewer people, but you still have to practice a lot and put in daily effort,” sophomore Larry Fan, who made second chair viola at All-State orchestra, said. “You have to be locked in from the start, right from when they first give you the (audition music).”
Those who make All-State and All-Region are assigned rankings based on chair placement, with first chair being the highest. They are then given music to practice for concerts in late January and late February.
“The music is different for All-State and All-Region. Each group picks different concert pieces depending on the conductor,” Bergeron said.
During the days prior to the concert, students are busy preparing, rehearsing with their ensembles.
“For State concert band, they first do chair testing. Then they rehearse all day Thursday and all day Friday, with a performance on Saturday,” Bergeron said. “For All-Region, it’s a rehearsal after school on Friday, then a quick rehearsal on Saturday, followed immediately by the performance.”
For Fan, the All-State experience is more than just playing music.
“It’s great to come with a big group from a small private school and play alongside other students from similar schools,” Fan said. “Seeing friends, having a great time and enjoying playing music together is the best.”
