While most students are terrified of blind auditions, two Barstow Juniors performed extraordinarily well, knocking the judges off of their feet. Both Helton Walker (‘24) and Phoebe Martin (‘24) auditioned for the All District Orchestra, and made it, both placing in the top 10 for the region.
“This year’s All District Orchestra was really exciting for me,” said Walker. “It was a lot of fun, and our hard work definitely paid off.”
Back in November of 2022, both students auditioned at the All District Orchestra. Both Walker and Martin had successful auditions, with Walker placing 8th overall in the violins, and Martin placing 1st overall for the violas.
Walker explains, “I am 8th overall in the violin section so I am 2nd violin, 4th chair,” and Martin adds on, saying, “I found out that I received principal violist, meaning I am the leading violist and will be the leader of my section. The principal is responsible for deciding bowings and fingerings so that the section matches, as well as leading the section in entrances.”
Both students have spent years learning their instruments, and their hard work paid off. Martin is a returning All District Orchestra performer, having participated in it for the past four years. She started playing the viola when she was five years old, and first participated in All District in 8th grade.
Walker is also no beginner when it comes to her violin, as she has been playing violin for around nine years, or since 2nd grade. She explains her process for preparing for this exciting event, saying, “I had been practicing since May for district auditions in November.” She is also a returning violinist in All District Orchestra, having participated for the past four years.
The All District Orchestra is run under the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and both students competed in the Kansas City district. Martin explains, “Similar to sports, it is the district level of orchestra; then you move on to the state level afterward, just like with any sport. Kids from all over the Kansas City Metro area who are enrolled in their high school music programs are eligible to audition.”
The performance took place on January 7, at Liberty North High School. Walker explained, “I think the performance this year went exceptionally well, especially compared to past years. Last year, we didn’t meet as much before the performance. However, this year, we have prepared much more and the performance was much more put together.”
The two went on to audition for State, and while Walker, unfortunately, did not make the cut, as the violin section is extraordinarily competitive and has hundreds of violinists. Martin did make the State team for All State Orchestra.
