BROOKINGS Seven Brookings High School students achieved the music equivalent of winning the state championship when they landed spots on this years South Dakota All-State Band.
The top players from every school are selected and get put into an honor group that performs a set of rehearsals and then a concert, Isaac McMahon, Brookings High School band director, said. The competition part for All-State Band comes before during the audition process, the months of preparation, hard work and lessons. The culmination of all that is an honor band experience where we are collaborating rather than competing. We come together with other top musicians from throughout the state to put together a really great performance.
This years concert was March 29 in Watertown. McMahon said the number of local students achieving All-State has grown recently.
We had two in my first year here. Then four students two years ago. Then six this past year, and now seven, he said. My first year here, I had to beg and plead 12 kids to audition. This year I still did a good amount of recruiting and encouraging but 36 students either submitted an online audition or performed an audition in person.
Hes seen some students audition every year.
They might not make it the first, second or third year, but often that persistence of focusing on a long-term goal pays off, McMahon said. A couple seniors finally made it on the fourth try. Their last try in high school, and they made it. But then I had one student who was like, no, there has to be a mistake. I couldnt have made it. Im not that good. And I told them, yes, you really are that good.
He said everyone who auditions learns something.
Its not about making it although thats really fun when you do but its about the growth that happens to you during the process, McMahon said. Theres a lot that goes into it. Theres no better way to get better at your instrument, and theres no better way to achieve your musical goals than to work on an All-State audition. It pushes you as an individual.
He wants students to learn about more than just music.
I cant think of a better activity than band and music to simulate being a great citizen. You cant have excellent performances without every member pulling their weight, McMahon said. You might not always have a great day; but when you zoom out, you see there have been enough good days to make it a great year. Youll have learned how to treat people, how to interact effectively and how to be part of a community. Thats my bigger goal teaching how to properly behave as a member of society.
The seven local All-State winners arent the only recent award recipients from the BHS band. McMahon himself recently received the Dennis Hegg Young Band Director award.
Its given to a young director each year who is in their first 10 years of teaching, he said. It was really cool because it was Mary Cogswell that actually nominated me. Shes a former fifth-grade music teacher from here and a monster legend in the state. Shes known so well for band. It was really cool to have her in my corner, and I really appreciate that.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
Leave a Reply