The percussion section have earned a once-in-a-lifetime event as they got selected for the Midwest Clinic, which takes place in December in Chicago.

“It’s an honor,” junior Richard Dang said. “We worked really hard and it’s paying off really well. I’m excited and I’m very appreciative of this good section.”

Current percussion students in the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds bands who are not graduating will be attending the clinic.

“I’m really proud of my accomplishment,” sophomore Jordan Apra said. “I didn’t think that I would ever get to go but to actually make it is really amazing. It’s been a goal of mine.”

The students have things in mind that they are looking forward to when they take the trip to Chicago.

“I’m looking forward to playing in front of a ton of people,” freshman Jackson Hoopes said.

The Midwest Clinic is a big clinic and the percussion students must prepare a lot in order to have a great performance.

“I’m going to practice hard, make sure everything sounds good and make sure we sound good,” Dang said. “It’s the most important thing.”

Midwest occurs in December and region auditions also take place in December. Not only do the students have to prepare their music for the clinic but they must manage their practice time for region auditions as well.

“It’s going to be really stressful,” Apra said. “I’m going to practice as much as I possibly can every day.”

Percussion director Joe Hobbs will have an audition for percussion students who are interested in going to the clinic. The students who are going will encourage others to audition so they can experience this once-in-a-lifetime event.

“I’ll tell them that you have to keep practicing a ton and if you don’t make it, then that’s fine,” Hoopes said. “You’ll have more opportunities later on during high school and it’s just a start.”