In honor of winning the Texas Music Educators Association competition last fall, the honors full orchestra has moved on to the state TMEA convention, which will be held in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In order to practice and perform for family and friends, the orchestra will be holding a pre-TMEA concert at the Eisemann Center in Richardson on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be priced at $15 at the door and $13 if purchased from an orchestra student.

The TMEA is composed of music teachers and directors from the entire state who gather to listen to schools that won the competition. The competition took place last semester when schools sent in CDs of their performances in various categories. According to senior Min Cho, the performance the full orchestra put on wasn’t easy to complete.

“It is really hard, there are hundred of schools in Texas and there are plenty schools that are for music majors only,” Cho said. “However, through our hard work and multiple sectionals and group work, orchestra members made magic with music, which is why we won first in the competition.”

Once they won the competition, the orchestra found out that they would play at the Lilo Cockrell Theater in San Antonio. Their performance is set for 4 p.m. this Thursday.

“For starters, the concert is super long and exciting,” Cho said. “Each beat makes everyone of us thrilled and each note makes our heart dance. I guess the final performance in front of strangers is one thing i am looking forward to.”

The full orchestra has been preparing for months trying to perfect their music, and to impress thousands of music directors that will be attending the state convention. Senior Matthew Frerck said they began rehearsing in November.

“The process of putting music together is long and requires a lot of effort inside and outside of school,” Frerck said. “In addition to class work, we had outside of school rehearsals and sectionals.”

The orchestra will play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, a movement from Brahms Symphony No.1, a waltz by Shostakovitch, and a piece called “Love Duet” by Howard Hanson.

“The program we are playing for this concert is very ambitious and is professional level repertoire,” Frerck said. “Playing this music is really inspiring and a major group effort, having the experience to play music like this especially in high school is very special. We are all looking forward to performing this music at the TMEA convention for a major audience and to inspire other people.”

Junior Fabiana Mosca is also excited for the concert and grateful to be participating in it.

“It’s just so amazing that PSHS got chosen out of so many other choices who participated in this,” Mosca said. “It would mean a lot to all of us if people from PSHS showed up to the pre-concert to support us.”

Cho is excited to see all of their hard work pay off and performing in front of thousands of audience members.

“You know how something goes, you can’t really know the euphoric feeling until you actually experience it,” Cho said. “I feel that this concert is going to be one of those moments. Before the concert, I am going to be nervous and worried, but as the baton goes up and everyone breathes together. That’s the moment. The moment that I am most alive and vigilant of every movement, that moment everyone clicks in together like the last puzzle piece, that moment I can exhale in relief. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”