CHINA SPRING, Texas (KWTX) – China Spring High School Band has kickstarted its first ‘Young Artist Competition’ to give students an opportunity to showcase their talents and possibly win college scholarships.
“It’s just a chance for us to really allow our students to compete at an individual and small group level,” Director of Bands Marc Nichelson said.
Students compete as solo or group musicians for a chance to win scholarships for college. Several China Spring High School band groups competed in the first round, and, this week, the top ten groups or soloists will compete.
“I think it’s important that we develop individual skill sets,” Nichelson said. “I think everyone could agree, the better the individual is at their job, the better the organization is as a whole”
Competitors said they enjoyed the extra opportunity because they may not get to showcase their talents or get scholarships at University Interscholastic League, or UIL, competitions.
“When we would go to those competitions, a lot of the times our ensembles or our solos would be too long to be competition suitable,” Joe Saucedo, a senior at China Spring High School, said. “It didn’t seem suitable for us to prepare months for these pieces and months to rehearse and practice just for us, the final performance we get to just be in a school classroom and then cut off early.”
Saucedo plays the alto clarinet. He said the Young Artist Competition allows them to prepare ensembles, strengthen their skills and compete against each other.
“We could all prepare these ensembles and and then come play for our own community, our parents, our family, and have them watch our performance as we do it,” he said. “I really like the change that we made.”
Even though Jonathan Mitchell is a senior at China Spring High School, he enjoys the new opportunity to showcase his talent and potentially receive a scholarship.
“I think it means a lot because students who do this get a chance to improve on their skills as a musician, as well as maybe even get a chance to earn a scholarship…that would help them with their college finances,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell plays the saxophone in the band, and he said he has enjoyed the additional competition.
“This means a lot coming from a senior because, in the recent years, we’ve done this as just UIL, solo and ensemble,” he said. “This is a big change for us, bringing in a little bit of friendly competition.”
“It’s very important to me because it’s my last time…at the end, it really pays off,” Gracie Tijerina, a senior who plays the contrabass clarinet, said.
The first and second place winners will be awarded scholarships.
Students and the district ask the community to come support the competitors and cheer them on during their final competition April 3 at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
The high school band hopes to make this competition an annual opportunity for students. Right now, the competition only includes China Spring ISD students, but they hope to expand it to include surrounding districts and ages.
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