Crisp, clear and beautiful, a tune swells through the concert hall as the band builds the crescendo they all have worked on for so long. Among them are two students, Braden Lefevre and Tesla Rowley, playing their instruments with expert skill in the performance of their lives.    

Senior Tesla Rowley and sophomore Braden Lefevre will perform with the TMEA All-State 5A Symphonic Band in San Antonio Feb. 13 after placing first in area TMEA Auditions Jan. 9, with Rowley playing e-flat clarinet and Lefevre the alto saxophone. While in San Antonio, Lefevre and Rowley will rehearse with a world class conductor and play new music.

“It’s a huge honor,” band director Mike Sheffield said. “It’s definitely a great honor that will follow them around for the rest of their lives.”

Rowley and Lefevre practiced the music for the area auditions from August while also participating in marching band.  

“I think Tesla has just been relentless in her pursuit,” Sheffield said. “If there was ever a person who earned the right to have that level of honor, I think it’s Tesla.”

Rowley achieved the honor after three years of auditions.

“It was my last opportunity,” Rowley said. “If you made a mistake, you didn’t get it. You have to try not to let the other people who are trying out against you get into your head.”

Lefevre qualified in his second year of the audition process.

“For anyone to make the All-State band is difficult,” Sheffield said. “For a sophomore to make it is that much bigger a deal.”

Out of 24 students from five areas, three progress to the All-State Band.

“At this level, anybody in the room could make it,” Sheffield said. “It’s quite difficult to make it to that level, and makes it quite an accomplishment.”

Lefevre found the results of the audition on the TMEA website an hour after it had finished.

“I thought ‘Oh my gosh, I actually did it,’” Lefevre said. “I thought ‘that’s really unbelievable, I actually did it.’ All I could think was ‘I did it.’”

Rowley did not find out the results of the auditions until Sunday, Jan. 10, a full day after auditions.

“I was waiting and waiting all day,” Rowley said. “I cleaned my whole house, and then I looked again and they were posted and I honestly just cried a little bit and screamed a lot.”

Lefevre said that the Canyon High Band, Mike Sheffield and his father have all helped him on his way to the All-State Band. 

“It’s been a pleasure to work with all these people,” Lefevre said. “I’m just really grateful for this opportunity to be able to participate in such a respected group of musicians.”