Making All-State Suburban Orchestra and getting into the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra are both hard things to do. But when you carry around a German bow in a little black case and music is life to you, it just seems normal.

Two-time All-Suburban musician Dax Faulkingham plays in many different orchestras outside of Pattonville where the high school sophomore is a bassist.

There were two auditions to get into the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. One at Clayton and a blind audition at Powell Symphony Hall.

“I was scared until I started playing.”

After getting into the orchestra there was an audition to see where he would sit, but the seating wasn’t really specific. There were a total of seven basses involved, but there were many other musicians there, too.

The music he played was difficult but said it was so rewarding to hear the music being played.

He said that it was very difficult trying to balance school and All-Suburban at the same time, but again it was worth it.

He had to go to rehearsals three days a week but the reward was great.

As a musician one of the best moments is the performance because you see all of your hard work going into that performance, and a finished product can be moving.

“At the most climactic points in the performance, my eyes started watering.”

Faulkingham will perform with the Pattonville orchestra on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Pattonville High School Community Auditorium.