With a personality as loud as brass, Blake Polaski has been accepted into the Southern Region High School Festival–for a second time. The Southern Region High School Festival is a festival where high school students in the southern region of Connecticut can play together after passing an audition. Polaski auditioned on November 18th, and got in with 165 points, the cutoff being 161. 

Polaski started playing trombone the summer between fourth and fifth grade. He chose this instrument because he wanted to stand out and be loud. One thing Polaski loves about the trombone is the range of notes you can play and the ever growing skill you need to play it. 

“I fell in love with the feel and sound of [the trombone],” Polaski says. “The longer I play it, the more I appreciate the sound and technique that is possible to create with it.”

Polaski tried out for regionals because of his dream of being a music teacher. To him, getting into regionals is a vital part of expanding his musical education. In addition to this, he can see the friends he made from last year and get to perform with them again. 

“Now I’m excited for the concert,” Polaski says. “It is tons of fun and an awesome experience musically.” 

You can come see Polaski perform in the Southern Region High School Festival at Wilby High School on January 19-20.