Three students from the West Bend High Schools drumline are still awaiting word to see whether they made the Milwaukee Bucks drumline.
Troy Matenaer, Carlitos Salazar and Duwayne Davis drove down to the Bradley Center on Friday evening to tryout.
“There were about 40 people there,” Matenaer, a West senior, said. “We have a good idea that our friend Duwayne made it but we’re still waiting for the official call.”
Matenaer said they all tried out in a group. “First we played ‘eight on a hand’ which is like a warm up, then we played ‘double beat’ which is another warm up, then we played a piece the Milwaukee Bucks drumline play at half time,” he said.
There and there were eight snare drums, four quads and five bass drums set up in the audition room. Two people from the Bucks drumline ran the tryout. “They’d rotate people in and out,” said Matenaer.
“We think Duwayne made it because when we rotated people the person in charge would say ‘you stay’ if he liked you,” Matenaer said. “Carlitos and I would rotate a bit but Duwane was in a good portion of the time.”
Aside from the nervous audition, Matenaer said the Bucks drumline instructors made it clear that this position was demanding.
“They said you have to be dedicated because the Bucks drumline plays about half the home games and then they play in the community a lot,” he said. “They said they would have some alternates come play so maybe Carlitos or I would get a call.”
The age range of the people who tried out was between 16 and 40 years old. Matenaer said, on the drive down to Milwaukee they talked about being nervous and on the way back they talked about similar things.
“Duwayne talked about how we were all going to make it and on the way back me and Carlitos were kinda bummed but Duwayne praised all of us. He was really nice about it,” Matenaer said.
High School Band Director Leah Duckert praise all three boys for their effort. “I’m amazingly proud,” she said.
“It shows how courageous they are and how much integrity they have and it shows their work ethic. They know they just can’t walk in and blow through the audition. These kids are practicing hours a night so that shows their determination too.”
Stay tuned to Washington County Insider for the final results.
Photo courtesy the West Bend High School band.