Pace twins chosen for All-National Honor Band

PACE — Pace High School seniors Andrew and Tacy Colón are two of 11 Florida students — and the only two students in Santa Rosa County — selected to play in the National Association for Music Education’s 2017 All-National Honor Concert Band.

"It was really cool because of how many steps it takes. You have to first make All-State, and then you can try out," Tacy said. "It’s a giant build up to All-National. Everyone is playing the same piece, so you have to try and stand out with that one piece."

The twins have each been selected to the Florida All-State band since middle school — Andrew for five consecutive years, and Tacy for six. A position in the All-State Band is one of the qualifications to be able to audition for All-National.

"We spend the entire summer preparing for All-State," Andrew said. "And then we both put in a good month and a half or two months [practicing for All-National]. And there’s just one audition piece, so you’re working for that long on that piece."

The siblings traveled to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando after Thanksgiving to perform in the concert where Andrew played the tuba and Tacy played the clarinet. They have both been playing an instrument for eight years; Andrew also plays the bass and Tacy plays the piano.

"It was really just so humbling to be a part of an experience like that," Andrew said. "Just getting to play with musicians like that, the entire time I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m here. Pinch me.’"

Only 155 students in the nation are selected to be a part of this event, and once selected, the musicians began rehearsing a challenging selection of music under the direction of T. André Feagin, a prominent conductor and assistant professor of music at Coastal Carolina University.

"It was really special, especially since we were able to meet so many kids from everywhere, and now we have connections in different states that we would have never been to," Tacy said. "It was probably my favorite Honor Band thing that I’ve done."

A total of 608 students from across the country were chosen for the All-National Honor Ensembles, which consists of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir and jazz ensemble.　

"It’s hard definitely as high schoolers, because when you go to something like that (All-National), they’re not just taking band… for the arts credit," Tacy said.

"They really have put in hours and hours every single week."

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace twins chosen for All-National Honor Band