Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) is one of the largest professional music organizations in Southern California that serves over 100,000 students to promote the growth of musical education and leadership. SCSBOA aims to develop musical growth for students across the state in elementary school, junior high, high school, and college by exposing them to different types of performances, musical clinics, interactions with professional musicians, and a chance to be a part of the SCSBOA Honor Groups.

These Honor Groups are divided into three subdivisions—Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony, and require the musicians to go through an extremely selective process to be accepted. More than 300 young musicians try out every year in hopes that their musical skills will be excellent enough to impress and meet the requirements of the instructors to make it into the group, but few are taken. It is quite remarkable that freshmen Yoshifumi Miki and Jolene Huey from AHS, were accepted out of 300 students to perform as first violins. They both went through a long journey in order to be selected into the SCSBOA All-Southern High School Honor Group to represent their friends, family, and the Apaches, so let’s give them a chance to talk about their impressive accomplishment.

Jolene stated, “I started playing the violin in elementary school, and once I began, I really enjoyed playing. It helps me relax and allows me to concentrate. Because of my love for playing the violin, I decided to try out for the SCSBOA Orchestra Honor Group.”

Having love and passion for music definitely allowed her to succeed during her tryouts. Jolene further elaborated that “trying out was a very competitive process since I needed to prepare and practice playing a scale and two advanced level excerpts. On the day of the audition, all of the applicants were assigned to a specific time slot and were asked to warm up in a room with the rest of the applicants. It was quite nerve wracking to hear the rest of the applicants practicing, since they all sounded very prepared. However, when results came out, I was very surprised and excited that I made it into the Honor Group, especially into the first violin section. Being able to play in the SCSBOA Honor Group gives me the feeling of being in a professional orchestra since I’m surrounded in an environment with extremely talented and motivated musicians who are engaged in the process of creating music.”

Both Yoshifumi and Jolene have inspired many with their determination, hard work, and dedication to playing music. We wish them a successful music season and the best of luck as members of the 2018 High School Symphony Orchestra Program!