Four Redhawk band students soared into the TMEA All-State band that will be leaving for San Antonio on Wednesday, where they will rehearse for Saturday’s concert. 

“The All-State audition process is a multi-tiered process,” director of bands James Weaver said. “Students receive their audition etudes in August, prepare with their private lesson teachers and master class coaches, and audition at the Region level. A small percentage of the top performers audition at the Area in early January. An even smaller percentage of those students, in some cases, only one per instrument at Area, advances to the All-State Band.”

With four All-State members, Liberty is tied for the most advancing students in the region.

“I’m really excited that I made state because it’s a great opportunity to be in an ensemble with such talented musicians and play really fun music,” senior Eujin Chung said. “I’m also super excited to get to spend time with some of my closest friends.”

Making the All-State is a process that starts in September and requires many hours of practice.

“I was very happy when I found out that I had made state because I had put in a lot of hours and work to be able to make state,” junior Nicole Johnson said. “I had made it my freshman year on clarinet but I knew that it wasn’t guaranteed.”

After days of practice, the members of the All-State band will perform at the TMEA All-State Convention.

The convention will have several performing groups, including jazz, percussion, and concert ensembles.

“I take a bus down to San Antonio with all the other Frisco kids who made state and we participate in the TMEA convention,” Johnson said. “We have many hours of rehearsal on Wednesday night, all day Thursday, all day Friday, and Saturday morning before the concert. I am very excited to be performing in the Sinfonietta orchestra.”