Seven ASMSA students qualified to attend All-State auditions this weekend in Russellville.
Students who qualified for All-State auditions are Joseph Blanton of Mena, first band, fourth chair tuba; Isaias Filipek of Bismarck, first band, fifth chair flute; Tyler Vangsness of Maumelle, first band, sixth chair trumpet; Joseph Filipek of Bismarck, first band, seventh chair percussion; Alex Smith of Sheridan, first band, ninth chair flute; Brock Davis of Hot Springs, first band, 11th chair trumpet; and Pooja Modi, first band, 12th chair clarinet.
Nikki Pastor of Clinton made second band, second chair in French horn for the Region II band but did not qualify for All-State auditions.
Vangsness is also qualified to audition for the All-State Jazz band the same weekend as All-State band.
“I am always amazed when ASMSA band students do so well in these competitions - not because I don't think they're talented or skilled - but because they are operating on less than five hours of practice a week - which is the minimum amount of time a week an average high school player spends playing their instrument,” said Mary Alice Chambers, ASMSA’s band director. “Our students, at most, get only two hours of group rehearsal a week and the rest of the preparation is solely on them. They might come in and ask for help on difficult passages before rehearsals, but the pressure is on them to prepare while managing the rigor of the ASMSA curriculum."