Band

Four EHS band students will be able to check 2016 State Band off of their high school goals list.  Seniors Jayce McQueen on bass clarinet, Olivia Jones on flute, Carlos Rodriguez on tuba and Corrinne Yoder-Mulkey on clarinet earned the opportunity to perform at the state honor band on February 22 in Wichita. This is the first year that Eudora has had more than three students make the state band.

In order to be invited to perform at state band, students must first audition for and make the district honor band. Eudora is a part of the northeast district and had ten students audition. Out of the ten, five made the band: McQueen, Jones, Rodriguez, Yoder-Mulkey and Mindy McClaskey as well as McNeilly James as bass clarinet alternate. Those who were made district then auditioned for the state. Four of the group was accepted: Jayce, Olivia, Carlos, and Corrinne.

The musicians received chair placements after making the state honor band. For the placement, Jayce McQueen was third chair clarinet out of the four students that made state band. Carlos Rodriquez was fourth chair tuba out of the six students that made state band. Olivia Jones was fifth chair flute out of the twelve that made state band and Corrinne Yoder-Mulkey was eighteenth chair clarinet out of the twenty-four that made state band.

Being ready for state band takes an immense amount of dedication, effort and love for the instrument. EHS band members were introduced to their instrument at a young age and followed it through to high school. For example, Olivia Jones was introduced to playing the flute in the sixth grade, and now has seven years of experience.

“Preparing for districts is a lot easier than preparing for state,” says Olivia Jones. “I currently take lessons from the flute professor at KU, so my training is above what normal high school students in the area are getting. Preparing for districts included having normal weekly half hour lessons, and practicing at least an hour and a half a day. In addition to your prepared piece, you also need to know 9 major scales (2 or 3 octaves), as well as your full range chromatic scale, and need to be proficient in sight reading.”

Students don’t just put in the effort for personal gain, but also to give an enchanting performance to those who listen. Mr. Bova, the EHS junior class english teacher who unfortunately will be retiring after the 2016-17 school year, enjoys everything about the high school band; the tuning of the instruments, the formality in clothing, and how focused and free of distraction the musicians are during the performance.

“It is deeply satisfying to see students in a state of complete ‘self possession’,” says Bova. “It’s that feeling you get when you see students in their own zone, whether it is shooting a basketball or playing a flute. It’s a type of revelation. English class is not for everybody, but I do hope that every kid in school can find a place to feel at home. For many kids, that home is in band, and we all benefit from that.”