They stare at a window anxiously waiting for results to be posted after their auditions. Baritone, saxophone, flute and many other score sheets are posted. As each separate sheet is pinned up, shrieks and yells of excitement are released along with sighs of disappointment.

On Friday, Dec. 8, the Texas High Band took to the TMEA All-Region competition in which 30 members made the region band. One Texas High student got first chair, which means the judges deemed her audition the best for that instrument.

“It’s something that I have always hoped to accomplish,” senior Katherine Stoeckl said. “My best friend made first chair her senior year when I was a freshman and I always looked up to her. I remember practicing with her and she would never miss a note and I always strived to be like that.”

Nine students also qualified for area, which is another round of auditions in which students are selected to participate in the state band.

“I was really nervous while I was playing because I felt like everyone was looking at me and judging me,” sophomore Lucero Castaneda said. “When I found out I qualified for area, I was very surprised because I felt like I wasn’t good enough and that there were people who were way better than me. I look forward to area but at the same time I don’t. I feel like it will be a fun experience, but I know I will get really nervous again.”

Although All-Region is geared more toward upperclassmen to compete against each other, freshmen are also encouraged to try out. Four freshmen tried out and were selected for a region band.

“I was really surprised because I felt a lot a pressure to make it because all my friends would come up to me and say, ‘Oh, Jalena you need to make it,’” freshman Jalena McDermott said. “Everyone did pretty well, but the fact I was the only French Horn to make region felt awesome.”