FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — It can be scary to put yourself out there and see how you stack up against the competition, especially when you’re in middle school.

But Rio Vista Middle School eighth grader Ian Mason did just that.

Inspired by a former classmate, he decided to audition for the 2026 California All-State Honor Band.

“I didn’t really think that I could make something that prestigious, but then a month later I made the all-county band, so I thought, ‘Hey, maybe I can do this next year,” Ian said.

For about five months, he worked on his audition music with his Band Director, Christopher Golden.

“Ian took care of 99% of it. It was fun because it was just adjusting small details and tweaks,” Golden said.

They worked to make the recorded audition as strong as possible and submitted it.

Golden says he felt confident Ian would be chosen as part of the ensemble.

“After you’ve done this for many years, you start understanding the level, and it was clear Ian was going to be competitive this year,” Golden said.

All that hard work paid off when Ian received word he was one of 12 trumpet players in the state who made the all-star band.

Ian was chosen as second chair.

“I knew that I was good. I just didn’t think I was that kind of good, that I was one of the best in California,” Ian said.

Students were selected from Orange County, San Francisco, Sonoma and beyond to make up the nearly 100-person symphonic band.

Ian and all the other selected students met in Sacramento in January, where they were able to showcase their talents performing at the State Music Educators Conference, with Golden in attendance.

“I know Ian from his time as a seventh grader, now an eighth grader, and so to see him up there with some of the most talented students in the state, pride is the word that comes to mind,” Golden said.

For Ian, he says he’s grateful he got the chance to play with such a talented ensemble.

“I felt like it was a very enriching experience being next to kids just like me who have the same interests, same skill level and everybody from the first chair to the 13th chair. They were all amazing,” Ian said. “I really enjoyed it. I want to do it again, and I probably will.”

Ian says he plans on auditioning next year for the high school all-state honor band.

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