Waters, Raybon performed at State Music Fest on October 16

Two Malta High School seniors Devon Raybon and John Waters were chosen for a high honor in their young music careers last summer. The 2015 State Music Festival an event which was held at the Alberta Bair Theatre in Billings on October 16 featured the state's most talented band and choir students which included Raybon, who plays trombone and Waters who sings bass.

"Usually they've done it in gyms," Malta Band instructor Erik Engebretson said. "It's a nicer experience for the kids."

The fact that Raybon and Waters have made it to the State Festival is huge considering the musicians are typically comprised of Class AA and A students.

"I think only four Class B bands are represented there," Engebretson said noting that there were around 900 audition recordings submitted. "For them it's awesome. It's the best experience they could have in a group in Montana."

Waters went to the event as a Bass II, which is a grouping that sings lower than a Bass I.

"I started singing in grade school but throughout high school my voice changed as I grew up," Waters said. "I used to be able to sing like a girl. I could hit all of those high notes and it was fantastic and my voice would never go that low, but as it has changed, my (talking) voice just dropped."

Waters explained that if you made it to the Festival, you were within the top twenty performers in your grouping throughout the state. Making the Festival is the music equivalent of an All-State athlete.

This was Raybon's second trip to The State Music Festival, a trip he made last year as a junior. The festival was held in Missoula at the University of Montana.

"I really liked it last year," Raybon said. "I met a lot of people and there's actually people that I know are going to be there again this year."

Raybon was the only one from the Eastern half of the state that performed last year.

"It was kind of lonely," Raybon admitted at first.

Waters received his notice that he had been accepted into the Festival through a text message that read :You made it :-).

"I immediately texted my dad because he was big into singing and so was my mom," Waters said. "Immediately it was on Facebook."

Singing has been a part of Water's life since he was a young boy.

"Singing is something I just go to," he said. "I have a habit of just humming or snapping my fingers in the hallway."

He admitted that it has taken him five years to get his voice to where it is now.

"I applied last year and I didn't make it," Waters said. "And this last year I finally made it and I think it's really awesome that I managed to work myself towards something as big as this."

Raybon started his musical journey in the sixth grade, which was when he first picked up the trombone. He also lived in Texas at the time.

"I played every year, all the way up to now, my senior year," Raybon said. "It was my six year plan."

Similar to how Waters found out he made All-State, Raybon also received a text.

"Mr. E texted me at nine o'clock one night and said that I had made it," Raybon recalled. "It was kind of cool because my grandparents were in town from Louisiana."

It was in Northwest Houston that Raybon fell in love with music and it was his grandparents from Louisiana that helped push Raybon's talents to where they are today.

"My grandmother actually is one of the main reasons I made it last year," Raybon said. "She showed me a lot."

His grandmother is a seasoned piano teacher and both grandparents can carry a note.

"She was able to explain some stuff to me," Raybon said.

CD and DVD recordings of the performance can be found on MHSA.org's website.