Just a few weeks into the school year and members of the jazz band had to find their groove as they took part in the All-Region Jazz Audition at Wylie East High School on September 24 with junior Jack Shore, senior Jessica Goodrich and senior Andie Hughes making the All-Region Jazz band in a process that is more involved than choir or concert band.
“There are three pieces to perform plus an improvisation étude, as compared to normal region where there are only three pieces,” senior Jessica Goodrich said.
Students involved spent their 7th period jazz rehearsal preparing for the audition.
“[I practiced] probably an hour a day for four weeks,” sophomore Ethan Etchieson said.
Beyond the amount of preparation time spent, the students had to perform for their director before they would be allowed to participate in the audition.
“[The directors had to] make sure we could play the music before we went and did it in front of judges,” Etchieson said.
The level of competition was also intense.
“Jazz region consists of 4A, 5A, and now 6A schools rather than just people from 5A,” Goodrich said. “So there’s a larger range of competition from more schools.”
The intense competition can lead to some feelings of uneasiness among students involved.
“[The audition] was really nerve racking,” junior Jack Shore said.
