Middle school band isn’t a low pressure, easy class as both middle schools proved when they performed at a statewide conference in front of hundreds of music educators and professionals.

Oak Harbor Middle School Symphonic Band, directed by Patrick Manuel, and North Whidbey Middle School Advanced Band, directed by Andrew Judd, performed at the Washington Music Educators Association conference in Yakima the weekend of Feb. 18 and 19.

OHMS held an evening performance and NWMS performed in the afternoon.

Bands must audition and be chosen for specific performances.

“The kids performed phenomenally,” Manuel said, adding that they handled themselves very well.

“I thought it was a really good experience because the audience isn’t just parents anymore. It’s more pressure,” said Suzanne Kaltenbach, an eighth-grade clarinet player in the OHMS Symphonic Band, which is the most advanced band at the middle school.

“It made us feel more like professionals than a middle school band,” said Kelly Findley, an eighth-grade alto saxophone player in the OHMS Symphonic Band. “And it makes us want to work harder to do it again.”

The fact that the band had to be invited to attend says a lot about the band, said Calib Byers, an eighth-grade percussion player.

“You get more confident every time you play,” Findley added.

The students performed in the Capital Theater, which Patricia Sablan, an eighth-grader who plays percussion for the Symphonic Band, described as “fancy.”

“It just made you feel closer to the music, like you’re in it,” Sablan added.

“I could definitely relate to these songs more. It’s hard to explain but you channel your emotion through your instrument,” Kaltenbach said.

“Honestly, I get goosebumps because I can feel that expression from them,” Sablan said.

“I can still play with a lot of emotion and I felt emotional playing it,” added trombone player Corbin Phipps, a seventh-grade student.

The students have been interested in or playing music since childhood. The Symphonic Band is only open to the best performing middle school students.

“We want to show the community it’s not all about sports; there are also arts,” said Austin Taylor, an eighth-grade clarinet player.

“A lot of people don’t realize music’s an art and there’s more than sports,” Kaltenbach added.

Taylor said he hopes younger students will be inspired by the band’s accomplishments and take up music themselves.

“I would really recommend kids to learn an instrument,” Sablan said, adding that music is a great means of self-expression.

“And hopefully they’ll have Mr. Manuel because he’s a great teacher,” Taylor said.

He added that after students heard about their accomplishments in the National Band Festival in Anaheim, Calif. last year, he knew of some art students who switched to band.

“We hope to have the same impact again,” Taylor said.

“I hope our band program this year inspires other band classes — sixth grade, seventh grade or high school,” Byers said.

Manuel’s band has a history of high-quality performances. Since 2004, Manuel has taken his advanced band to the regional San Juan Music Educators Association competition and earned “superior” ratings every year, which is the highest honor a band can achieve at the competition. In 2010, the band also performed at the WMEA convention. Last year, the band raised $55,000 to perform at the National Band Festival in Anaheim, Calif., where they earned second place.

Manuel said these real-world experiences are vital to a well-rounded education, and the students agreed that the experiences have been meaningful.

“I hope that other bands years behind us will be able to experience the same thing because I thought it was a wonderful musical experience,” Kaltenbach said.

“Like Mr. Manuel said, it’s one of the most memorable things and we’ll never forget it,” Sablan said.