Recently, three De Soto High School band members earned their way into two nationally prestigious musical groups. Junior Ethan Aubrey-Mitchell and sophomores Brenton and Alexander Michalek were selected to join two seperate audition-based marching bands.

Aubrey-Mitchell auditioned and was chosen to be a member of the drum and bugle corps marching group, the Colts.  The Colts are based out of Dubuque, Iowa, and they are a Division I drum corps group.

Division I drum corps groups travel the nation every summer and are composed of the most elite brass musicians, percussion ensemble and color guard.

“My former section leader, Derek Smith, previously tried out, two years ago and made it. I got the chance to go and see one of his home shows, up in Dubuque, and got to see them warm up also. It was just so cool to see them all so involved. It’s truly an elite group,” Aubrey-Mitchell said.

Aubrey-Mitchell decided this was something that he wanted to do. Last fall, he began the audition process.

“There are two auditions, mildly formal, in Dubuque. Basically, you pick any piece, based on your skill level, play it down, along with a chromatic scale. Then, there is a visual auditioned, mostly based on how fast you learn,” Aubrey-Mitchell said.

Aubrey-Mitchell got news of his admittance during winter break, and is excited to start performing.

“Once a month, for every month, until May, I will be driving to Dubuque for four days at a time to practice. Basically, I eat, sleep and live with the corps. Then, on May 27, I leave for three months to travel and perform with the corps,” Aubrey-Mitchell said.

The corps will be performing during the summer 2013 in Olathe. The dates for the nation-wide tour have yet to be posted, but can be found on colts.org at a later date.

Both Brenton and Alexander Michalek were also honored with their selection into the Bands of America Honor Band.

On Jan. 1, the band marched in the Tournament of Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. The boys auditioned last March, and submitted an online musical audition, along with a recommendation from DHS band director Matt Bradford.

“We rehearsed there for four days before the parade,” Alexander said.

Millions of people watched the parade, both in person and on television.

“The most exciting part was marching and knowing that we were on national t.v.,” Brenton said.

“I am very proud of all three of them. Those [bands] are a very big deal, and are not easy to get into,” DHS Band Director Matt Bradford said.