The Hilliard Middle-Senior High School Wind Ensemble garnered a first place trophy and earned a superior rating in the open class category in Orlando last week.
The band won a previous superior under band director William Hazlett when it competed during Orlando Fest in 2014.
For this year’s Music USA Festivals, 23 students competed in Soundstage No. 33, placing highest against other middle and high school bands across the nation. Music Festivals USA is a non-profit organization “promoting education through quality evaluation,” according to its website.
The HMSHS band is comprised of 70 members, including color guard.
During an after-school practice session, students played “Folk Song Suite,” “Moscow 1941” and “British Eighth March.” Guest conductor Buddy Ball, a retired band director from a different school district, worked with students alongside Hazlett.
Following rehearsal, students talked about the music festival.
“It was fun,” Trinity Jordan said.
As a percussionist, Jordan plays xylophone, cymbals, triangle and drums. She has noticed the advancement in her skill sets overall since joining the band in seventh grade.
“I’ve improved a lot – more than when I started out,” Jordan said.
The band has held a steady membership since Hazlett’s arrival in 2013.
“In the last two years the retention rate is 80 percent or so,” Hazlett said. “They sat through an almost two-and-a-half hour rehearsal and were still happy.”
Sophomore Calem Cauley plays drums. This was his third trip to the music festival. Despite the competition, he doesn’t allow the pressure to affect him.
“We saw new people,” he said. “You just go and play.”
Abigayle Noble has played flute since sixth grade.
“It was nice to play somewhere different,” the junior said.
Senior drum major and first-chair clarinetist Makayla Cauley participated in the competition with brother Calem.
Cauley was recommended to receive a $30,500 academic and talent scholarship when she attends Jacksonville University’s College of Music in August.
As her high school career winds down, Cauley looks forward to the challenges of university life.
“I’m excited to move on and experience new things,” she said.
Cauley is one of three seniors who will leave the band at the school year’s end.
“I’m very proud of her accomplishment,” Hazlett said.
For now, she’ll keep giving her younger brother tips for success.
“We work together,” Cauley said, adding that she encourages Calem, “to have a good attitude and support other members.”
In a separate competition, first chair alto saxophonist Amelia Underwood will advance to national competition held in Anaheim, Calif. The Assemblies of God church denomination will host the youth event Aug. 7-11. Underwood attends Hilliard First Assembly of God. She and five other teens, including Jacob Hinson, Isabella Comer, Benjamin Sharpe and sisters Bailey and Logan Crawford competed in a fine arts competition in Orlando Friday.
Underwood played “How Great Thou Art.”
“It was definitely an honor to be chosen and I was not expecting it,” she said Monday afternoon.
The freshman joined the HMSHS band four years ago.