Austin Kulm, a Flandreau 8^th grade trombone player, has earned his way into the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band concert which will be held March 3rd in Pierre.

Kulm will sit first chair trombone. Forty trombone players in grades 6-8 auditioned and Austin had the highest score among all of them, and the 7th highest score of all wind players. The audition consisted of scales and etudes. Austin is Flandreau’s first 3-year MS All-State Band Member, having been selected in 6th, 7th, and now 8th grade.
Austin’s honors don’t end with the All-State Band as he was also selected as a member of the Middle School All-State Jazz band which will perform this weekend in Mitchell. There were 48 students that auditioned for the Middle School All-State Jazz band this year, 8 of them trombone players. Austin had the second highest score for Trombones. The audition consisted of scales, etudes, and an improvised solo. This is the second year of existence for the Middle School All-State Jazz Band in the state of South Dakota, and Austin has now been selected both years. He will join the other selected students in rehearsing and presenting a concert over the weekend of February 2nd and 3rd in Mitchell.

His director Pat Weight said, “I’m very proud of Austin for all the work that he has put in this year, as well as in his past years. I’m excited to see how the All State ensembles sound this year, and to see what Austin accomplishes in the future.”