On Jan. 11, a group of band and orchestra students traveled to Salina for state live auditions. They left at 6:50 a.m. and made their journey to Salina Central High School.

“Auditions were fun but also stressful,” junior Ben Rajewski said. “I think I did well and didn’t mess up much during the audition.”

Band director Craig Manteuffel had KMEA duties while the students had their auditions.

“Each musician played a chromatic scale, a scale of the judges’ choice, and excerpts from the pieces of music that were provided and site reading from a piece of provided music,” junior Alex Crowley said. “You are behind a black curtain while playing so you cannot see the judges and they can’t see you, it’s rather nerve racking but fair. You are also given a number that way judge cannot identify you by your name.”

Tristan Callis was the only orchestra student who went to live auditions that day.

“State auditions are comparable to having every one of your eyelashes individually pulled out,” senior Amy Jordan said. “It’s nerve-racking to put months of lessons and practicing on the line and have it judged over a five minute period. I think I did okay, but nothing more than that.  I had some technical errors, but I tried to play as musically as possible.”

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