Austin CrockerBradyn Barr

During the first week of January, Mathews High School Band members Austin Crocker and Bradyn Barr were busy recording audition tapes for the District 8 Honor Band.

Auditions are usually in person at the Grafton School Complex, where hundreds of students compete for spots in the prestigious groups. Barr, a freshman at MHS, was accepted into the concert band as the second chair tubist while Crocker, a senior, was accepted into the symphonic band as the third chair bass clarinetist.

Both students needed to show mastery of the chromatic scale, 12 major scales, a prepared etude and one sight-reading example. School divisions involved include Mathews, Gloucester, York, Poquoson, Newport News, Hampton and Smithfield. MHS band director Tim Fary Jr. said he is extremely proud of the students’ work ethic and dedication to their craft, especially during these uncertain times.
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