Maisy Mack plays the euphonium, which is a smaller brass instrument. Mack has also played the trombone and baritone. She collects antique instruments, too, and once made a clarinet into a lamp.
When sophomore euphonium player Maisy Mack auditioned for the National Future Farmers of America Band, she didn’t think she would get in. But an email in August informed her that she’d been selected.
“It was kind of crazy,” Mack said. “I was really surprised.”
Mack is the first Eudora student ever selected for the National FFA Band.
She will travel to Indianapolis in late October to perform at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. The event brings together FFA members from across the country for competitive events, workshops and service.
Mack said she will perform in the Lucas Oil Stadium, which houses the Indianapolis Colts and has a capacity of 67,000. She said she will have a few public concerts and a few concerts just for FFA members.
“I’m kind of nervous,” Mack said. “That’s the most, going to be definitely the most people I’ve ever performed for.”
The convention starts Oct. 29, but Mack will have to get there early on Oct. 25. She won’t know what music they’re playing before she gets there, and the band will have to spend the entire week rehearsing.
“We’re going to have a lot of music,” Mack said. “Hopefully it’s not too difficult.”
Last spring, Mack also participated in the Kansas FFA State Band. She said the state band was “really fun and such a cool experience.” Mack has been in the Eudora band since sixth grade, and she made the district honor band last year. She’s a low brass section leader in the band, too.
“I like getting better and improving and challenging myself,” Mack said.
She also said being involved helps her grow as a person.
“That’s one of the main reasons I’m trying to be involved, just to make me more confident,” Mack said. “Band definitely makes me more confident.”
Band director Damian Johnson said Mack is “such a determined young lady.”
Mack told him she had made the band during a parent-teacher night at the beginning of the school year.
“I just grabbed her, gave her a hug, and her mom was just beaming, which was really cool, too.” Johnson said. “It’s a family accomplishment. It’s not just Maisy’s accomplishment because her family supports her in everything that she does, including music.”
Mack said she is most excited to make new friends, since she will be the only student from Eudora in the national band.
“In the hotel, I’m rooming with three random people that I’ve never met before, obviously, from all around the US,” Mack said. “I’m really excited for that, to make new friends.”
Mack has been part of FFA since her freshman year, and she is now a chaplain. She competed in the floriculture category last year, which is cultivating flowers.
“I really like flowers,” Mack said. “Me and my dad, we hybridize daylilies.”
She said the FFA community “is the best part.” This upcoming year, she said she wants to compete in other categories, too, like public speaking.
When Mack graduates, she hopes to go to college and major in something related to biology. Eventually, she said she’d maybe like to work in a national park. While in college, she hopes to play the euphonium for the marching band, too.
Her mom, Kari Mack, said she’s excited for her daughter to have another big opportunity with her instrument.
“Hopefully it’ll encourage other people, maybe in the future, from the school to audition as well,” she said.
She also hopes she can tag along and see her daughter perform.
“Our family’s from Indiana, and so it’s only about two hours away from where our family lives,” Kari Mack said. “I’d love to be able to find a way to be able to stay, maybe even stay with family and be able to come to some of the concerts.”
Johnson said Maisy Mack brings a lot to the Eudora band.
“She’s a huge asset to our program, which is why I’m so excited that she’s getting these accolades for the FFA national honor band,” Johnson said. “I hope this isn’t the end of it.”
Reach reporter Bella Waters at [email protected].