Homepage
Related Photos
-
Courtesy Photo
Discussion
PHS band members among state's best
Band nerds. Geeks.
Sara Bates, Ashley Conner, Christi Haines, Tayler Kimbrough and Laura Witt have heard all the labels, stereotypes drummed up by students who don’t understand the passion for the music that band members have and the hours of practice that goes in to making a halftime show or concert.
But the five members of the Palestine High School Wildcat Band can lay claim to one title that the rest of the student body can’t – All-State Band member.
The quintet earned that label when they were invited to participate in the Association of Texas Small School Bands’ All-State Band in San Antonio held in early February. They’re also part of 28 PHS band members who have qualified for the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Competition in Austin at the end of May.
For Haines and Witt, the February concert marked their second straight year on the All-State Band.
Bates, a junior, plays flute; Conner, a junior, plays contra clarinet; Haines, a junior, plays clarinet; Kimbrough, a sophomore, qualified for state on alto clarinet but also plays B flat clarinet; and Witt, the only senior of the five, plays French horn.
All five began playing as sixth graders and stuck with it, discovering that they enjoyed the melodic fruits of their labor. Together, they’ve formed a core of role models for younger band students to follow, says PHS band director Shawn Murphy.
“They’re just a great bunch of kids,” Murphy said. “I’ve been here three years and this group has an inner drive, an inner motivation, that I haven’t seen before here.”
It’s the passion for perfection that drives them to practice pieces of music over and over, sometimes to the dismay of friends.
“I told my friends they just don’t understand,” said Kimbrough, who also cheerleads, runs track and plays volleyball. “You have to have self-discipline to remember sets and notes at solo time. Most of us are really educated and smart. Band is where we focus.”
People who only see a 10-minute halftime show often don’t appreciate the hours that go into not only playing the music correctly but doing so while walking amongst others in front of an audience, Bates said.
“The only things they see are pep rallies and football games,” said Bates, who also plays soccer and runs cross country and track. Concerts are after hours.”
“They don’t understand what’s behind all the concerts,” Kimbrough added.
But other band members do, and they’re taking notice of the rewards that have come to the five All-Staters, Murphy said.
“It’s a trickle down effect,” he said. “When new members look to how they’re supposed to act, play and be and they see these All-Staters at the top of their sections, it gives them a good role model. These days, good role models are hard to come by.
“It sets us up good for the future. (Younger students) do what they see their classmates do. Fortunately for us, they’ve developed a culture of striving for excellence.”
For Witt, the role models were right there at home.
“I have three older brothers who all played French horn,” Witt said. “Two of my three older brothers made All-State, so I knew how it was supposed to sound. I knew I loved it already.”
Reaching the state Solo and Ensemble competition during her first year in high school only added fuel to the fire.
“It gave me the courage,” Witt said. “I knew if Solo and Ensemble was fun, state band must be more fun.”
The realization as a freshman that she could go farther if she specialized on one instrument made a difference with Conner.
“I cross-trained on all these instruments and then I saw people who were really good (on one),” Conner said. “I thought that could be me.”
She began pouring her energy into contra clarinet and began to reap the benefits, she said.
“I started working really hard,” Conner said. “I made All-State this year. Now I’m thinking of making it a career.”
Seeing others doing the things to be successful helped motivate Bates to work hard early on in middle school, she said.
“When you start, you kind of look at the high school players so you’re inspired by them,” Bates said. “You think you’ll never be as good as them. You can be motivated by hearing how good they are.”
For Kimbrough, learning to make her own music was motivation enough to put in the effort to improve, she said.
“I’ve always been a fan of music in general and being able to make my own music intrigued me,” she said.
In Haines’ case, the light came on in ninth grade when she realized how well she stacked up against much older players.
“I got to All-Region and Area,” said Haines, who also plays on the high school softball team. “It was Area and I was one chair from State.”
She began taking private lessons, practicing her technique, scales and music, and a year later found herself headed to All-State.
“There were amazing players there,” she recalled. “I felt like I was out of my league. After that, I wanted to work even harder.”
The thought of making it one year and not the next drove both Haines and Witt, they said.
“I wanted it even more the second time,” Witt said. “I had to practice even harder. I’m a senior so it would be disappointing to go my junior year but not my senior year.”
Once they graduate, only Conner intends to major in music studies in college, possibly at the University of North Texas or Texas State, though all may try to use their skills to gain scholarships to pay for their education and possibly play in college bands, they said.
Witt is interested in becoming an X-ray technician, Haines is looking into nursing school at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, while Bates wants to attend Baylor but is undecided on a major and Kimbrough still has two years to decide.
Regardless of where she goes with her music after graduation, Haines said she’s thankful for where it’s led thus far.
“I’m blessed, definitely blessed,” Haines said. “It’s not me, I’m happy to say that. I just hope it pays for college.”
Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com
- In The News
-
-
Colorful Hummingbird
A hummingbird sits in a still position on a tree branch last week in Palestine at the home of Jimmy Pryor. Pryor used a Canon Rebel XTi with a 75-300 mm lens to capture the shot. His next attempt will be at getting in-flight shots of the birds.
- Authorities seeking murder suspect on revocation of probation warrant
- PISD sees gains in TAKS test
-
- Local News
-
-
Experts say above average dove crop to greet hunters
Dove season officially began Wednesday, but hunters will be out in full force beginning Friday evening for opening weekend.
Continued ... - State to rest case in Frankston man's murder trial
- Farmers Market sets super Saturday sale
- Artists to compete for awards
-
Experts say above average dove crop to greet hunters
- Local Sports
-
-
Local Roundup: Cross Country squads head to Crockett
If you’re looking for one of the Dogwood Circle’s cross country teams this weekend, they won’t be hard to find.
Continued ...
All five schools that run cross country will be in Crockett for the Bulldogs’ annual meet. - County feud: Frankston, Westwood look for first win in Anderson County shootout
- 'Cats look to rebound on the road
-
Local Roundup: Cross Country squads head to Crockett
- Opinion
-
-
3-Minute Bible Study: The heart of the gospel
Rome was known for it's great road system. So Christians call five verses in the book Romans that lead us to salvation the "Roman Road". Today's Bible Study, Romans 5: 1 - 9, takes a look at the passage surrounding the middle verse of the Roman Road:
Continued ... - County extension report: Good news and bad news
- PISD starts school year with more students
-
3-Minute Bible Study: The heart of the gospel
