Five talented eighth-graders rose to the occasion when they represented the Loomis Union School District’s advanced band at a regional performance. Tristan Naess and Jacob Warden, from H. Clarke Powers School; Ashley Wyman and Aileen Carroll, from Franklin Elementary School; and John Kurnett, from Loomis Grammar School were selected to perform at the Causeway Youth Band Festival. The students were part of a 100-member junior high band performance held last Sunday, Nov. 8, at the University of California Davis Mondavi Center. For the final number, the youth band members joined with the U.C. Davis band, California State University Sacramento band and regional high school band members to form a 300-strong band. “It was fantastic to hear all of the perfect sounds from everybody. My family thought it was amazing,” said Jacob Warden, who plays percussion. Jacob said he plans to join the Del Oro High School marching band next fall when he is a freshman. Aileen Carroll, who plays the oboe, found the performance enjoyable. “It was lots of fun. You played with performers who were really good,” Aileen said. Aileen said she, too, plans to perform in the high school marching band, but has not yet chosen an instrument. She said they don’t have oboes in the band. Band director Sarah Brown was very proud of her students’ performance. She said the event was challenging, but very rewarding for the students. “They were exposed to a higher level of professionalism and were led by music professionals. I am so very proud of them,” Brown said. She explained that the students spent two Saturdays and the day of the performance rehearsing at U.C. Davis with students from all over the region. John Kurnett, who plays the trumpet, said the final number “was really cool.” “It was called ‘In Requiem.’ The brass section played it from the balcony,” he said. John’s mom, Sue, said she was impressed with the students’ performance. “I was amazed to hear the sounds that the conductors got out of them,” she said.