In a culmination of their musical aptitude, 46 Brahmas were given the opportunity to flourish as part of the All-Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Honor Group Band in January.
SCSBOA, a non-profit organization dedicated to gathering young musicians to perform in professional settings, has historically accepted around 40 students from Diamond Bar High School in previous years. However, the musicians selected are not limited to just high school, but range from elementary schoolers all the way to undergraduate college students.
“I saw lots of familiar faces, but of course, many more new ones,” junior Andrew Oh, who auditioned for the program as a trombonist, said. “It was really eye-opening to see so many people who were so much better than I had even thought possible.”
Auditioning for the program was a rigorous process, involving submitting various solo excerpts from previous orchestral pieces and recording scales. For some, this was even further complicated by the instrument they auditioned for.
“For percussion, the audition process required us to send in various recordings on multiple instruments, including snare drum, marimba, timpani, and crash cymbals,” senior Siwoo Chung said.
Afterwards, the students’ submissions were judged alongside those of around 300 other schools by professional musicians and teachers, from which only the top ten percent received All-Southern Honors and were invited to perform in a concert together.
The three-day event accompanying the SCSBOA concert was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Orange County hotel in January. The conductor for the honor wind ensemble was Dr. Michelle Rankers, Senior Assistant Director for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra. Under her direction, the performers dove into challenging repertoires, refining their musical interpretations during rehearsals.
Beyond conducting, Dr. Rankers and other professionals shared their personal journeys through music, inspiring the young musicians with anecdotes of perseverance and resilience prevailing over setbacks to achieve success.
Additionally, more ambitious students were presented with the opportunity to not only play alongside but conduct the entire band. Despite the inevitable pressure associated with being alongside the best of the best, many Brahmas were able to find positivity and make friends within the groups they were divided into by instrument.
“During breaks, the percussion section and I bonded over trips to get Italian ice, among other things.” Chung said. “I feel like this really fostered a closer connection within our ensemble.”
Overall, Chung, alongside many others, found a newfound sense of passion for music in the aftermath of the event.
“I met talented musicians from all over SoCal who shared my passion for music,” Chung said. “It was cool to interact with people who wanted to pursue further studies in music, which isn’t very common at DBHS. Participating in sectionals over the years pushed me to grow as a musician with techniques valuable not just for music, but for life.”
