Seven students from FSC’s Department of Music were selected to play in the All-State Intercollegiate Band at the 2013 Florida Music Educators’ Association Professional Development Conference, held in January in Tampa.

Further placing Florida Southern in the limelight at this event, three students were chosen as first chairs in their sections – Tyler Pate, clarinet, Danielle Brooks, bass clarinet, and Alex Belliveau, trombone.  Rounding out the contingent of FSC student musicians were Paula Tagalos, horn; Katelyn Stillinger, horn; Kaylea (Buggy) Bowden, trombone; and Kasey Skoll, clarinet.

Chosen through an audition process, these students competed against the best collegiate instrumentalists from colleges and universities throughout Florida for a place in the All-State Collegiate Band. Only 84 students from the entire state were selected for the band, the goal of which is to provide expanded musical experiences for collegiate wind and percussion students.

The band rehearsed for two days and performed exceptional wind and percussion music in a concert under the direction of nationally renowned conductor Michael Haithcock at the Tampa Convention Center on Jan. 11.

“It’s amazing to have three first chairs in the All-State Intercollegiate Band,” said Paula Parsché, chair of the Music Department at FSC. “We are proud of our students and feel that their selection as elite musicians on the state level reflects the high standards and quality for which our Department of Music is known.”