It’s that time of year again for the Francis Howell North band ensembles. On May 2,  bands including symphonic ensemble, woodwind choir, brass choir, and percussion ensemble are heading out to Mizzou in Columbia, MO to compete in the MSHSAA State Solo and Ensemble festival. The bands will be competing with a total of 2100 entries, which is the most entries in the state since 2010.

“As an ensemble, everybody needs to know their part, and everybody needs to know how their part works with everybody else to come together,” Director Jeff Moorman said.

When the bands arrive on the campus, they will separate into either their ensembles, a trio, quartet, or solo. Each group or person will be playing in front of a judge to receive a rating between one and five, one being the highest. This year will be the first year that the school will be competing with their percussion ensemble and they are the only other school, besides Fort Zumwalt West, who enters woodwind choir, brass choir, and percussion.

“I hope that it’s a good experience for everyone and that my quartet and solo both earn a one,” freshman Carolynn Gonzalez said.

The bands had to start somewhere; they don’t just get to go to state. Districts determines that pretty much anyone from the band program can go to districts for a solo or ensemble with any instrument, and if you get a one you go to state. The ensembles that got a one from districts then go to state as well. At districts, all of North’s bands and choirs got a score of one, which is the best score you can get.

“I’ve been in a lot of other competitions for the piano but this is my first school sponsored competition I’m in,” freshman Colin Levins said. “For state I hope to gain a better experience with competitions and just to become a better musician in general.”