On December 3, four Teague band students auditioned for the annual Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) region band competition in Groesbeck. However, only three students qualified to participate in the ATSSB concert that will be held on January 21 at the Groesbeck High School auditorium.

            In competition were Ryan Mitchell (8), Hannah Dimicelli (9), Kyle Hayworth (10), and Kristen Gore (11). Participants in the region band competition arrived early morning on Saturday. For the adjucators to judge them fairly, all competitors were given a label with a combination of a letter and number to identify them. From there, the students were led to the Groesbeck High School gymnasium, which was set as the warm-up area. Nervous and impatient, some of these students had to wait as long as four hours to audition. During the audition process, students have to do two tryout rounds. The first round is typically the student’s scales and a slow etude, and the second round is the student’s fast etude. Normally, the student walks in to the tryout room, where there are a panel of three judges hidden behind a sheet. When getting results, students can be selected for the top band (Symphonic) or selected for the lower band, (Concert).

            As a result, Mitchell placed sixth chair Symphonic band.  Since he is a junior high student, he will be unable to advance to the Area competition in chance of going to State. Hayworth placed sixth chair Concert band and Gore placed eleventh chair Symphonic, who fell short of obtaining a high enough chair to advance to the Area competition. Congratulations to these students who put forth hard work and determination to represent Teague.