It was like walking to a jungle of notes, or at least, it sounded that way. The Tripp Middle School and Leavitt Area High School band and choruses all walked into Greely Middle School for a the District 2 Musical Festival tryouts. The festival includes all schools in District number 2. Some of the schools are Auburn, Lewiston, Greely, MSAD 52, and many others.

All of our jaws dropped at the size of the school. A simple water fountain had this whole metal mural. Once you got over looking at that, you saw the rest of the school. Everyone was so nervous, whether they would admit it or not.

“Band students to the gym straight ahead. Choral students, down the hall way and take a left.” someone directed us. After we all got terribly confused, we finally found ourselves in a room with the other middle schools.

The choral room, where we practiced our pieces, was a big stage that had been curtained off. It was kind of like the waiting room that you always see the contestants in before you go on to a show, like American Idol. All you can do is wait, and hope for the best!

I have to say I love District 2 because of all the new people you get to meet. Kendra introduced me to a girl who she went with to camp. I met a lot of new faces just saying “hi.” Everyone really wanted you to succeed.

Choral students, like me, were being judged on eye contact, breathing, posture, notes, skill, and the overall sound of the piece. It doesn’t sound hard, but getting in a room with a judge just staring at you makes it a lot harder. Plus, combine your overall nervousness about wanting to make it so badly, you have District 2.

Don’t get me wrong though, District 2 is a ton of fun. Mary Schomaker says, “I think the auditions were really fun and it was a great chance to meet other people who have the same interest in music. I can’t wait to see the scores and I want to know who made it. Everyone knows what they’re doing and it is a whole lot of fun. It was very fun I really enjoyed it.”

Alana Malllard said, “Being a new comer, I felt that it was a very good environment. I felt welcome, thought it sounded as if was extremely hard, scary and evil, it turned out to actually be fun.”

The band students even had a super time. Kendra Ellie, Caleb Jordan, and Lucy Kowlton, thought, (Kendra) “I thought, that, even thought I was really nervous I had a lot of fun with it. I was a good experience.” (Caleb) ” I thought that it was very nerve racking. I had a later audition so I had a lot of practice. Therefore I was very confident when I went to audition.” (Lucy) “It was fun.”

All walking out of the building, knowing we performed to the best of our ability, and that’s all you can do. Everyone wants to get in, but we don’t know who will. So now will just wait, and hope for the best, knowing if we didn’t make it, there will always be next year!