Five of Lake Havasu High School’s most talented musicians got the chance to join other top high school musicians in a three-day festival celebrating all things music.
From February 16th to February 18th, students Britney Busnaldo, Damari Campos, Nolan Crane, Shaylee Herron, and Cora Mariani attended the Arizona Music Educators Association Northwest Area Honors Festival at Yavapai College. The five musicians spent time learning new music, performing in state-of-the-art auditoriums, and conversing with passionate peers.
To qualify for the festival, LHHS band director Kimberly Schreiber said students would go through blind auditions judged by “experienced judges and music experts” sitting behind curtains listening. He said he was ready.
As part of the audition, students had to perform three etudes or small arrangements, instrumental scales, and a first look at sheet music. Campos, who attended the festival for the first time, said the audition experience was terrifying.
“It’s really nerve-wracking to walk into that room and see a blank screen and a piece of paper and be afraid to make a mistake,” Campos said. I was confident that I did my best.”
The audition process can be a stressful process, so Schreiber encourages students to focus on the excitement of attending the prestigious festival rather than the scary experience of auditions.
“I try to focus more on the possible outcomes of performing with prestigious groups that are more important than the ‘horrifying’ auditions,” Schreiber said. They say it happens when you step out of your comfort zone, and you never regret trying, because that way you can always improve!”
Mariani qualified as a replacement for last year’s festival, and says having auditioned once before helped her prepare for this year’s audition.
“I already knew what was going to happen, so I feel like I’m stepping myself up for success next year,” said Mariani. “Basically, it was the same as my first year, and I was able to prepare more in areas I was not good at.”
Schreiber says that even if a student isn’t selected for a regional gala, it’s a “golden opportunity” for students to audition.
“The whole audition process gives them something to strive for, essentially a goal to strive for, making them better musicians in the process,” Schreiber said.
More than 300 students from schools in Kingman, Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Prescott, North Phoenix and other regions attended this year’s festival. Between rehearsals and clinics with ASU and Army music experts, Havasu students said they had the opportunity to make friends with fellow musicians from various programs.
“I’m an introvert and I’m not good at talking to people, but I love music and you love music, so I can connect with you,” Bussnardo said.
“It’s like family outside the home,” added Heron. “They are like distant cousins.”
Three days of student connection lasts much longer than a festival.
“I’m still friends with the people I met last year,” Herron said. “I met new friends this year. We’re all in group chats still talking.”
The three-day festival ended with a concert at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.
