As he practiced in the Band Hall like he always did, he held his phone close by. Always keeping it right next to him, opened to one particular photo. The image serves as a reminder of his score, which was one point away from advancing.

Senior Isaac Galvan performed in the All State Band on Feb. 13, after coming up short last year.

“I missed it last year by one so that photo was my motivation,” Galvan said. “I’ve been doing band my whole life. I want to be the best I can be at it.”

Galvan qualified for state as the Second Chair French horn player.

“I was really excited and wasn’t surprised because I knew I had a good audience,” he said. “I did the best I could. I was expecting to make it but not get that high up there.”

Making state is just one of the steps toward Galvan’s dreams of becoming a professional musician one day, he said.

“I’m hoping to major in music in college,” he said. “It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

His journey started in the summer.

“The Texas Music Educators Association puts out music for every instrument in August,” Head Band Director Eric Mullins said. “They organize auditions in 25 different regions.”

Auditions are nerve racking, Galvan said.

“I have to prepare and compete with thousands of kids but it’s not just practicing every day, it’s in your mind,” he said. “You’re not going to be able to have your best audition, but you have to stay focused.”

Three others qualified for state.

“We were definitely excited to play with a bunch of highly advanced players,” junior Anthony Reily said. “It was fun to know what it’s like to be able to play almost professionally.”

Reily said he enjoyed performing at state.

“I’m definitely proud of (us),” he said. “We worked really hard and it was worth it to take the trip with them.”

Making state has been senior Mark Simmon’s goal for seven years.

“Being able to jump from last chair in the Region to State is one of the biggest things I’ve ever done,” he said. “This just shows (that) anybody has the potential to do this.”

The work they had to put forth was tedious, Simmons said.

“I had to sacrifice time with friends because I had to stay at home and practice,” he said.

Senior Johnathan Passmore said he loved performing with his friends.

“(We) all have been working super hard,” he said. “It was great to play with those guys because they’re really good players.”

The musicians are good role models, Mullins said.

“They’re leaders of the ensemble and juniors like Anthony, who will be someone students can look up to as an example of how to go about making state,” he said.

Even though Galvan advanced, he said he always finds a way to improve and grow as a member of the band.

“It’s still the same thing,” he said. “No days off. Even though I made it, I’m not going to stop doing what I have to.”