Vaca Peña Middle School is gearing up for a big performance this weekend, welcoming selected student musicians from around Solano County to play as one in this year’s North Bay Honor Band.

The students at Vaca Peña are getting ready as well, with 12 chosen to be in the band after successfully auditions.

According to Director of Bands David Flores-Workman, it’s the largest number of accepted students in his six years at the school, up from just a two when he started in 2019.

About 17 students from Vaca Peña Middle School applied for the honor band and not everyone made it, says Flores-Workman, who is “thankful” for the chosen dozen.

In total, 56 students will be performing Sunday, coming from schools in Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Dixon and more. Before that are two days of rehearsal and preparation.

It isn’t until the Friday before that the students come together as one, but that doesn’t stop them from rehearsing, says Flores-Workman.

“I’ve had them work during the middle of the school day so that way they can get to learning the music,” said Flores-Workman.

Of the 12 students, three eighth graders, Brooklynn Bossi, Jonathan De La Cruz and Yaritzi Romero agree that the application process was somewhat stressful, competing against not only other schools, but students from your own school.

After they got past the application process, learning five new pieces of music has its challenges as well. Romera says Flores-Workman has helped the students work through difficult passages.

Flores-Workman says that this year’s Honor Band auditions were more competitive than normal, adding that even some qualified students didn’t make the cut simply due to instrumentation and space constraints.

Once Friday hits, the students will work with the entire band for two back-to-back eight hours days ahead of the performance. “It’s an intense couple days of rehearsal,” says Flores-Workman.

“They’re high level musicians and it helps us get a stronger program,” said Flores-Workman. “They’re able to bring back the knowledge that they’ve learned from the honor band and they get to work with students that are just as into music as they are.”

But the concert doesn’t only help teach the students, says Flores-Workman, adding that “I learn from the director who’s going to be in charge of the entire group some different techniques. So for me, it’s a learning experience as well.”

Once the students graduate from the eighth grade, they move on to a higher and more competitive level of playing, says Flores-Workman. However, the students say they’re up to the challenge, hoping to continue playing their instrument in the years to come.

If you go …

• WHAT: North Bay Honor Band
• WHEN: Jan. 26, 1 p.m.
• WHERE: Vaca Peña Middle School, 200 Keith Way, Vacaville.