After a stellar 2012-2013 year, with superiors at MPA and several students making the all county band, the wind ensemble is looking to continue its success this year.

Band director Carol Allen said she has high hopes for the group, but only under certain circumstances.

“I think this [wind ensemble] is going to be one of the best ones I’ve ever had,” she said. “It has a lot potential, but it depends on how hard people want to work.”

Sophomore saxophonist Marc Spurlock said he thinks the band is more than willing to work hard.

“I think we have very ambitious people in the band that want to do good and see themselves succeed,” he said.

Although the band has lost several senior leaders, many students from advanced band, including freshman trumpeter Colin Patterson, who made the middle school all-county band, will help to fill the void.

“Wind ensemble is a lot more challenging than advanced band,” Patterson said. “It’s different being around older kids, but I know that will help me to improve.”

Spurlock said he thinks the loss of the seniors will not be difficult for the band to recover from.

“You know, we lost some very good kids but we have great kids in the band and a great director, Ms. Allen, that will make up for [the seniors],” Spurlock said.

As well as the addition of former advanced band members, Allen also has decided to make adjustments to the wind ensemble’s schedule, adding an event at Disney to help the students improve their sight-reading skills, which are put to the test at MPA and various auditions for honors bands.

“A panel of experts will work with [the students] so they can become more proficient at sight-reading,” Allen said.

As well as a strong wind ensemble, Allen said her middle-school advanced band also has impressed her.

“There’s a lot of good solid players in a good solid band,” Allen said. “There’s a nice low brass section and its very balanced, possibly the best since I’ve been here.”

The band program will host their first concert on Dec. 11 at Eau Gallie High School.