MS Musicians Make Top Region Band
On Saturday, November 12, eleven St. Andrew's Middle School Band students traveled to Smithville to audition for the Association of Texas Small School Bands Region Band. Four hundred 7th and 8th grade students from 23 different central Texas schools competed for spots in one of the two performing Region bands.
After a full day of auditioning for a panel of five judges, seven students earned a spot in the prestigious Region Band. This is the fifth year in a row that St. Andrew’s has placed students in the Region Band. The top ranked players in each section are placed in the Region Symphonic Band, and the next set is placed in the Region Concert Band.
Two 8th grade students made the Concert Band; Maddox Kunik got 4th chair (9th overall out of 58) on alto saxophone, and Matt Kennedy got 5th chair (19th overall out of 63) on trumpet.
Five students made the top Symphonic Band; 7th graders Antonio Flores got 5th chair overall out of 58 alto saxophones, and Maja Urban got 5th chair overall out of 55 flutes.
St. Andrew’s set a new school record by placing three students in the Region Band for the second year in a row. Only one other student, Katherine Andrews, had achieved this in the past. Eighth graders Jack Bellingrath got 3rd chair overall out of 33 trombones, Robert Botkin got 3rd chair overall out of 20 euphoniums, and Emma Schmidt got 6th chair overall out of 21 tubas.
Two 8th grade students made the Concert Band; Maddox Kunik got 4th chair (9th overall out of 58) on alto saxophone, and Matt Kennedy got 5th chair (19th overall out of 63) on trumpet.
Five students made the top Symphonic Band; 7th graders Antonio Flores got 5th chair overall out of 58 alto saxophones, and Maja Urban got 5th chair overall out of 55 flutes.
St. Andrew’s set a new school record by placing three students in the Region Band for the second year in a row. Only one other student, Katherine Andrews, had achieved this in the past. Eighth graders Jack Bellingrath got 3rd chair overall out of 33 trombones, Robert Botkin got 3rd chair overall out of 20 euphoniums, and Emma Schmidt got 6th chair overall out of 21 tubas.
This is quite an amazing accomplishment against some tough, experienced competition. These students will perform a concert with the other all-star musicians who made it on December 3 at 5:30 pm in the beautiful Bastrop Performing Arts Center. Congratulations to these outstanding musicians for their hard work and great accomplishment!
