Baldwin High School sophomore and band percussionist Kody Reese made Georgia’s All-State Band.
The Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band gathers the most talented student musicians from middle school to high school to participate in a concert.
Students have about a day to prepare after receiving their sheet music. According to Baldwin County Schools Percussion Director Christopher Ryles, that's why it's so important that students are able to sight read for their auditions.
'State auditions are held on the Saturday after we come back from Christmas break,' Ryles said, 'Obviously Kody (Reese) scored really high on that audition because he's now principal timpanist.'
Ryles said this achievement is not only a win for Kody but an achievement for the Baldwin County Music Program, 'I've been here for six years, and we're slowly trying to build a program to where we get on that state recognition level, and then eventually get on the national level.
Having a student make it to All-State Band just solidifies that step in the process I'm trying to create here.'
Reese’s background in music is a multi-generational story. He recounts that his grandfather played percussion, his aunt and father play the clarinet and that his cousins all play percussion.
“Out of my family, I’m the first to make All-State. I made them proud,' said Reese.
In All-State Band, Reese will play first chair timpani, which is an instrument composed of five large drums tuned to different pitches which he'll sit in the middle of.
According to Ryles, when most students come in, they want to play drums, but he's adamant that percussionists do it all.
'We're not just drummers, we're percussionists. We play it all. We do everything.” In addition to being a natural talent, Ryles said that Reese's work ethic is incredible.
'Me and him came in during Christmas Break. I blocked out time, and then we had two other percussionists come in as well. So these kids have got the work ethic, but he's also got that natural talent. And when you've got that talent plus that work ethic, the sky's the limit.'
- Contributed by Eric Jones, coordinator of school and community relations