“I saw a girl with medals at District Honor Band when my brother was in it,” said flautist Kylie Wiggins, of Flomaton. “I wanted to have those medals.”
Wiggins recently has gotten her chance. A sixth-grader at Flomaton Middle School, Wiggins has been playing the flute for just a few years, and recently achieved a position before never held by a sixth grader from Escambia County. She was selected for a seat in the flute section of the All-State Band, following an audition in Enterprise, Ala. on Saturday, Jan. 25, where she scored a seat for flute for District VIII, out of all who auditioned.
District VIII covers 13 counties in Southeast Alabama, including Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Monroe, and Pike Counties.
“Kylie is first sixth grader to go this far, to even try out in this district for All-State,” said father Dennis Wiggins.
District Honor Band rehearsal and concert will be this coming Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, in Enterprise. Following District Band will be the All-State Honor Band concert in April.
At All-State, Kylie will be among 16 flautists, comprised of the top two middle school flute players from each district from around the state, chosen to participate. All-State will be Thursday through Saturday, April 23 through 25 in Huntsville, and will perform.
On Thursday, April 23, they will determine chair placement, then hold a 3-hour rehearsal that night. Following practice all day Friday the 24, the Saturday concert will begin with a warm-up rehearsal, then the middle school band and three high school bands will perform.
“I want to make the highest I can get,” aid Wiggins. “I want to maintain that until I am a senior.”
Wiggins wants to attend the University of Alabama, where she plans on being in the 'million dollar band'.
In District Honor Band, there are currently only three sixth graders, one from a different district, one alternate, and Wiggins.
“Kylie has worked so hard on it,” said Flomaton band director Adam Atchison. “Being first chair in the sixth grade in honor band is great. She's at the top of the pack.”
