On Monday, November 28, eleven students from Blanco High School traveled to Navarro High School to compete in the ATSSB All-Region Band tryouts. Students from Blanco who audtioned were: Bryce Burson, Flute; Arianna Flores, Flute; Kelsey Schwind, Alto Saxophone; Andrea Torre, Alto Saxophone; Rebecca Dowlearn, Trumpet; Echoe Burkhart, Trombone; Mekala Button, Trombone; Donald Miller, Tuba; Alina Aly, Percussion; Travis Bailey, Percussion; and Forrest Jones, Percussion.

This particular competition takes all the 1A, 2A, and 3A schools and has them compete in a blind audition to be selected for the All-Region Band.

Each school sends its best players, and the top students are picked for the band and then the top of those picked are chosen to advance for Area Competition.

Each student must prepare two etudes that are chosen for each section, as well as a number of scales. On average there are 30-40 participants trying out on each instrument.

Participants audition behind a screen for five judges. The judges then rank the students, and the top students make the band. Out of the students that make the band, the highest ranking students move on to Area competition to compete for the Texas All-State Band.

Rebecca Dowlearn and Echoe Burkhart made the All-Region Band. Echoe ranked high enough to advance to Area competition in Orange Grove, Texas, on January 7, where she will compete for a spot in the Texas All-State Band.