Members of the high school band may play different instruments and compete in different competition events, but are united in a passion for music.
Many began as musicians in fifth grade, when their love for playing started to grow.
Some are now preparing to attend the state competition April 29 in Andover after qualifying at the regionals competition last weekend in De Soto.
Director of Bands Damian Johnson said the band isn’t just there to play music, but to be there for each other, forming a tight-knit family by playing music together.
“Anyone who joins band here becomes part of the largest family they’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “Anyone will feel welcome here. When you’re here, you’re family.”
Senior Sophia Nichols said there’s nothing that matches the feeling of being on stage — just her, her flute and an audience anxious to see a performance she has sunk countless hours into.
To Nichols, performing is exhilarating.
“Music is a universal language,” she said. “When you’re on stage, just you and your instrument, nothing compares to seeing the audience react to the hours and hours of work you’ve put into perfecting this piece of music.”
Nichols has played the flute since fifth grade because she wanted to play just like her mom.
Sophomore year, she decided she wanted to reach “the next level” after realizing she wanted to be a music teacher. She upped her practice time and played as much as she could.
She said she was inspired by her mentors in music, including Johnson, and wanted to have the same, positive influence on younger musicians.
“Band is a microcosm of life,” she said. “You succeed in life if you play in band.”
She also plays a number of other instruments, including the clarinet, piano and piccolo, to name a few.
To learn new instruments, she practices 40 hours in one week. She said she learned and mastered the alto saxophone in just one month, making the district band.
She said her talent for picking up new instruments quickly is because she constantly plays, teaches and listens to music.
“I connect with music above all else,” she said. “Everyone can be taught to play music. You just have to know to be patient with your progress.”
She said anyone interested in band or music should act as a sponge — soaking up any guidance an older musician gives you. She said that’s helped her become the musician she is today.
“Pay attention to any advice you’re given,” she said. “Chances are, they know what they’re talking about and you can learn something.”
Senior Rebecca Johnson learned to play the French horn, mellophone, most brass instruments and the piano essentially on her own — without any private lessons.
She was scouted by Johnson in sixth grade, when he pulled her aside and encouraged her to join band because he said she was a good student and had a good sense of tone.
Her main instrument is the French horn, which she said is an especially difficult instrument to play. Even Johnson didn’t know how to play, so she had to teach herself a lot about the instrument and sought out advice from her father, who played the instrument as well.
“It took a lot of time and patience,” she said. “Especially switching between different instruments. I had to engrave things like finger placements into my brain.”
She originally joined band because she said she wanted to be a part of something. She continued, however, because of Johnson’s guidance and her parents’ encouragement.
Now, she has a passion for band, not only for the music but for the people.
“We are one big family,” she said. “There’s just a sense of community when you walk into the band room and an overwhelming sense of belonging.”
Performing hasn’t always been easy, however. She said she originally struggled with stage fright, but has worked on turning her fright into excitement by watching the impact she has on the audience.
“I can go out and play something and have it mean something to someone,” she said. “If I go out there and play a sad song that makes someone cry, I know I’ve done my job. It’s not very often you get to say making someone cry is a good thing — but music touches so many people.”
Junior Thomas Romero picked up the trombone in fifth grade, practicing one hour a day, five days a week for one year to master it.
Originally inspired to pick up the trombone because his sister played it, he continued into his junior year because he enjoyed playing and seeing his progress.
On stage, Romero said he knows he’s good at what he does.
“Right before, I might feel slightly nervous,” he said. “But when I get on stage, I feel really confident in my music and the work I’ve put into it.”
Balancing band with sports, such as wrestling, he’s been able to make friends outside of Eudora through music.
“Making memories and learning new styles, instruments and types of music is, of course, a huge part of band,” he said. “But we’ve also been able to connect with other musicians at other high schools through music.”
The high school’s band is special to Romero because each member appreciates different styles of music and enjoys teaching each other.
Because the band isn’t as big as other schools, he said they stick together and form close relationships.
“We’re not too big, so we can’t split up,” he said. “So we can really learn from each other. We are a perfect size.”
For Romero, the friends he made through band are a big reason why his passion for music hasn’t faded. But music has remained steady in his life because of how it makes him feel.
“For me, music is a good way to calm down,” he said. “It helps with confidence because you have to play in front of so many people.”
Even after 23 years of teaching young musicians, Johnson said the high school’s current band makes him excited to go to work. He said the group has a high level of maturity, respect and encouragement for one another, and great communication.
He said his role as director is to help his students realize the potential they have and grow their confidence when performing.
“When I watch them perform, I reflect on the journey they took to get there and smile,” he said. “I’m proud whether they score a one or a five.”
Many band and choir members received 1 ratings at regionals last weekend in De Soto, qualifying them to compete in the state competition April 29 at Andover Central High School.
Here are the results from the regionals competition:
Terek Stoll (Trumpet Solo) – 2 Rating
Georgia Martin (Flute Solo) – 2 Rating
Sophia Nichols (Flute Solo) – 2 Rating
Trombone Quartet (Cameron Herschell, Thomas Romero, Emiri White, Mars Skiffington) – 2 Rating
Isabella Johnson (Trumpet Solo) – 1 Rating
Eugene White (Trumpet Solo) – 1 Rating
Brass Quintet (Stephen Fletcher, Isabella Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Terek Stoll and Emiri White – 1 Rating
Paityn Dice (Flute Solo) – 1 Rating
Bailey Shoemaker (Violin Solo) – 2 Rating
Thomas Romero (Trombone Solo) – 2 Rating
Natalie Karten (Vocal Solo) – 2 Rating
Mars Skiffington (Euphonium Solo) 1 Rating
Hannah Higginbotham (Trumpet Solo) – 2 Rating
Avery Williams (Vocal Solo) – 2 Rating
Brooklyn Thorne (Flute Solo) – 2 Rating
Saxophone Quartet (Alexia Born , Lilly Rife, Nate van Foeken and Noah van Foeken) – 2 Rating
Allie Boose (Clarinet Solo) – 2 Rating
Flute Trio (Addy Barnard, Paityn Dice and Sophia Nichols) – 1 Rating
Rebecca Johnson (French Horn Solo) – 1 Rating
Andrew Lord (Flute Solo) – 2 Rating
Eudora Mixed Vocal Ensemble (Chad Bishop, Thomas Croner, Ryleigh Hartwell, Ava Heide, Braylen Hoobler, Natalie Karten, Kason LaMont, Audrey Mach, Rebekah Owens, Nate Reazin, Morgan Spencer, Nate van Foeken and Addison Woods) – 1 Rating
Addy Barnard (Flute Solo) – 1 Rating
Morgan Spencer (Clarinet Solo) – 2 Rating
Flute Ensemble (Autumn Baethke, Addy Barnard, Paityn Dice, Andrew Lord, Georgia Martin and Sophia Nichols) – 1 Rating
Elizabeth Fisher (Clarinet Solo) – 2 Rating
Clarinet Ensemble (Allie Boose, Adria Chrislip, Elizabeth Fisher, Andi Fraser, Janice Nelson, Bailey Shoemaker, Justin Shoemaker, Morgan Spencer and Lilly Williams) – 1 Rating
Alexia Born (Tenor Saxophone) – 1 Rating
Percussion Ensemble (Kenny Brooks, Gavin Harper, E Holman, Parker Hurley , Rooster Lindsey, Thomas Romero and Davis Watson) – 2 Rating
Reach reporter Jenna Barackman at [email protected]
