February 2, 2017 - As he reads down the list of names, a huge feeling of disbelief hits him. He reads over the list again and his name is still there. His name is on the list. All those hours of practice finally paid off. A huge wave of pride began to flow through his body.
Senior Michael Stanford went to compete at the Area Tryouts at Chapel Hill High School on January 7 with the hopes of making the state band. He went in with his tuba and walked out first chair, making him the best tuba player in the area. As an All-State Band member, he will compete for his state chair on February 8.
“I didn’t believe it,” Stanford said. “I really thought it was a misprint on the sheet, like maybe they messed up or something.”
Being raised in a musical family, music has been apart of Stanford's everyday life.
“Music is something all of my family does,” Stanford’s mother, Diana Stanford said. “We sing and play instruments together and it's part of the heritage. He fell in love with music seven or eight years ago when we gave him piano lessons as a Christmas gift.”
Becoming a member of the All-State Band isn't easy, especially when the tuba wasn’t the first instrument of choice. During Stanford’s freshman year, Band Director Chris Smith lacked a tuba section and hoped that someone would step up to volunteer. Stanford took on the challenge. He gave up his trumpet and was given a tuba. Stanford would have to learn the basics of the tuba while playing high school level music. After time, he went from not knowing how to play a single note on a tuba to playing state level chords.
“He started off on trumpet and he just volunteered to help us fill up a tuba section,” Smith said. “I’ve seen lots of improvement in him. It takes lots and lots of hard work and dedication to make it to the All-State Band and I’m super proud of him.”
Stanford spent many hours per day practicing his music. He spent his first two periods at school in the band hall, going over his music again and again. Then he would spend time after school playing his music even more, either by himself or with one of the directors.
“I’m proud that he made state, but I’m more proud that he worked so hard to do it,” Mrs. Stanford said. “It wasn't given to him. He set the goal last year and he achieved it this year. I think his motivation was Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith needed tubas and Michael was tired of the trumpet and wanted a little bit more of a challenge.”
Music may not be something Stanford will pursue as a career but it will always be apart of his life.
“I don't plan on majoring or minoring in music but I’m not letting it go,” Stanford said. “I plan on keeping music as a hobby for the rest of my life.”
PRESS RELEASE:
The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2017 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 9,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty-two different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 295 of these 2,222 students were selected for all-state honors.
Michael Standford, a member of the Center High School Band, was selected as a member of this band. He was chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels. Stanford plays the tuba at school under teh direction of Chris Smith, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1155-member group of band directors in class 4A high schools in Texas. This is Stanford's first time to perform as a member of the ATSSB All-State Band. His other interests at school include Science UIL, and HOSA. He also enjoys playing piano and studying physics. He is the son of Lynn and Diana Stanford in Stockman.
The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas, February 8-11 and will present a concert beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2017, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.
Joseph P. Missal, Oklahoma State University, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band. The Symphonic Band will premier a piece by Johnnie Vinson, commissioned by the ATSSB. Jeff Gershman, Capitol University, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band. Ellen Rowe, University of Michigan, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble which will perform at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2017, in the Convention Center Hemisfair Ballroom 1.
