On Saturday November 18th, students in Ian Youngs’s band classes would go to Joseph A. Foran High School to audition for the Southern Region High School Festival. The festival is a two day event where students from schools in the Southern Region of Connecticut all play together in one big band, learning new things and making new friends along the way. 

Two Woodland students would end up making the cut off to get into the band, sophomore Blake Polaski, and senior, Kyle Egan.

“It’ll be tons of fun,” Polaski said. “It’ll be nice to play with people who are as into it as I am.”

Besides Regionals being an opportunity to play in a band with kids who are as serious about it as Egan and Polaski are, it is an opportunity to meet new people and make more friends. Being her first year, Egan is eager to make new friends and Polaski is excited to see old ones. 

“I am excited to learn my part and play with new people,” Egan said. 

Behind these students is Woodland’s band teacher, Ian Youngs. Youngs has constantly encouraged and supported these students–in addition to his other students in his music classes–to play their absolute best. He pushes students to get over the mountain of mastering new and difficult skills by always being there to help, even during his prep blocks. 

“Participating in Regionals is a very big deal as a high school musician. Not only does it promote self-improvement and growth, but it enables young musicians to meet and perform at a very high level,” Youngs said. “To have 25% of our band students audition and to have two make it in with their score, I am very proud of the work that they put in day in and day out.”

Come support Polaski and Egan by going to the festival on January 19-20 at Wilby High School.