This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Hopatcong Freshman Flutist Hits Right Notes, Joins Regional Band

Laura Willis, 14, plays with Region 1 junior band.

freshman Laura Willis was awarded a seat to play with the Region 1 Junior Band. Willis placed in the top 10 of the New Jersey Music School Association Junior band auditions.  

The 14-year-old flute player was among the highest scoring of all 43 freshmen from across the northern half of the state. Auditions were held on Feb. 5 at Paramus High School. 

Laura was nothing short of excited about her ninth-place win.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I felt really excited because at the auditions I heard a lot of the other flute players practice and they were really good,” Willis said. 

For Hopatcong High School band director Matthew Testa, Willis’ success is just as an achievement for her as it is for the school. 

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I was ecstatic when the results were posted on Sunday, the night of the Super Bowl. This is quite an accomplishment for the band as well as Laura since she placed in the top 10 of students who auditioned. This means we are starting to produce more students who can compete at the regional level,” Testa said.

But Willis’ success did not come easily as it she spent lots of time and effort practicing and perfecting for the regional auditions.   

“Laura initially struggled with the county-level auditions, but from November to February she worked really hard for the region auditions and her hard work really paid off,” Testa said.

“For the county auditions I didn’t practice enough but I practiced more for regions especially scales,” Willis said.

Hopeful students from different New Jersey counties each year audition for the NJSMA, a band-director run organization. Region 1 auditions include seven northern New Jersey counties. Students can audition in three areas; winds/brass/percussion, strings, and chorus.

However, the NJSMA has high expectations for its auditioning students.

Students who auditioned for the junior band  must be enrolled in the seventh, eighth or ninth grade and must remain in good academic standing in the school musical performing organization for which students auditioned for as well as receiving an endorsement from their teachers.

Region band rehearsals officially begin March 15, when students will prepare for the region concert which will be held on March 27 at 3 p.m.

For more information about the NJSMA, Region 1 results, and concert dates visit http://www.njsma.com/

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Hopatcong-Sparta