There was never a doubt Lydia Bird would be a musician.
After all her father Michael Bird led choral programs at Tallassee High School and worked with the school’s bands. Then all six of her siblings are involved in music. As a sophomore, Lydia is close to doing something her father and siblings never did — win both all state choir and all state band in the same year. Three have been all state choir and one has been all state band, but never in the same year. This year Lydia was all state choir and just short of being named all state band. At eighth place in the state she was named to the Alabama Bandmasters Association High School All-District Honor Band.
“One has done both but in different years,” Michael said. “She is trying to top that.”
All State Choir is named by one set of judges traveling to each of eight districts across the state.
“You sing in front of the group,” Michael said. “There is no quota.”
Band is different. A single judge travels to each district and scores. A quota determines how many make all state.
Lydia plays the trumpet. She was eighth in the state just outside of the top six that were placed in one of three all state bands.
It’s a process Michael competed in while at Robert E. Lee High School, making all state band his sophomore and senior year and as music teacher. Now he is retired from public schools.
“I was kind of a witness to it as they auditioned for all state choir or all state band,” Michael said. “This time I knew she was going to try out and proud that she made it.”
The competition is long. Each person trying out has to play major, minor and chromatic scales. They get to bring a lyrical and technical piece in to be judged. There is also site reading.
Lydia already knows what she needs to do to move up to all state band.
“Years before I didn’t give myself enough time to practice the set pieces or the scales,” Lydia said. “I could be more prepared by practicing more and earlier.”
Her musical career almost didn’t happen, though.
“At first I didn't enjoy playing it but as I got better, played more music, it just came to me,” Lydia said. “When I first started band, I knew I had the ability to play the trumpet but wasn’t naturally good at it.”
For the Birds, it's music almost 24/7. All seven siblings are involved in music and Micheal is a music teacher and is currently at Faulkner University.
“You learn to love it,” Lydia said.
