Submitted photoTCCHS band students in their formal dress for Georgia Music Educators Association District 2 honor bands concert.

THOMASVILLE — Forty-four Thomas County Central High School youth musicians added their instruments and unique playing styles to this year’s Georgia Music Educators Association District 2 honor bands.

The event transpired Feb. 7-8 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Younger pupils played in the 9th/10th District Concert Band while older students performed with the 11th/12th District Symphonic Band.

GEMA District 2 encompasses 19 counties. Including 26 students from Thomas County Middle School, Thomas County students comprised almost a quarter of all participating students, TCCHS Bands Director Joe Regina said.

“District Honor Band is a yearly event in which the top musicians in Southwest Georgia gather to rehearse and perform,” he said. “Well renowned clinicians from around the country are brought in to work with the students. Rehearsals begin on Friday afternoon and continue until Saturday morning. The event then culminates with a concert on Saturday afternoon.”

Freshman baritone player Mason May, 14, auditioned to test his musicianship skills and improve his talent. 

“I felt really excited and honored to be chosen to participate,” he said. 

Junior Julia Harper, who plays bass clarinet, auditioned for DHB to further her music experience and improve her audition skills. 

“I’m proud that I was selected because it takes a lot of hard work and practice,” she said. 

The salient point of attending DHB is to improve and become better musicians, Regina adds. 

“For the audition, students had to memorize major scales, prepare a technical study called an etude, and also sight-read a piece of music for the first time,” he said. “All of this helps them learn and grow, and the audition is a good experience for them as well. They learn to work to achieve a goal, operate as an individual as well as part of a team, and be creative.”

Freshman flutist Logan Newton arrived at DHB ready to learn.

“I hoped to gain a better ear and to be able to listen to a variety of other players’ tones, articulation, and their use of vibrato,” Newton said. “I learned how to blend with my section and the entire band and gained an idea of how vibrato should work.”

Participation in DHB helped Harper achieved her goal. And she appreciated being around others who take band seriously.

“I became better at sight-reading and more confident at playing,” she said.

Sophomore Tisha Stevens, 16 and a clarinetist, auditioned for the knowledge.

“DHB is a great way to challenge yourself to become a better player,” she said. “I hoped to learn about ways I could better my sound. I learned different techniques and ways to improve style, balance and dynamics.”

Regina feels DHB was an excellent experience for the participating students.

“They got to work with other musicians of the highest caliber from the area and were also under the tutelage of some fantastic band directors,” he said. “To put together a concert program of that quality in such a short amount of time is truly impressive.”

Hearing the junior/senior honor band perform was Newton’s favorite part of the event.

“I could see what I could accomplish in the future, and their selection of music was overall amazing,” she said.