VIDALIA — This weekend, some Vidalia Junior High and Vidalia High School band students will take it to the next level — the college level.

Northwestern State University will host a day in which band students will be taught by NSU educators and band section leaders, and the day will culminate when participants perform at the halftime show of the NSU versus North Dakota State University football game.

Bandleader and choir teacher for VHS and VJHS Cheryl Lewis said this will be the second time students from Vidalia participate in the performance.

Clarinetist Garrett Henson, 13, said he signed up for the day because he thought it would be a good experience.

“I thought it would be a really good opportunity, so I didn’t pass it up,” he said.

Trumpeter Xavier Bell, 13, attended band camp at Southern University last summer, but that just wasn’t enough.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity to see what a college band is like,” he said.

Saxophonist Jake Couie, 16, had a similar goal.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some experience with a bigger, quality band,” he said.

Trumpeter Andrew Couie, 12, just wanted experience, he said.

“I haven’t been with this marching band very long, and I think if I went now I would gain a lot more experience than otherwise,” he said.

Baton twirler Kadesia Thomas, 15, decided to sign up for the day because it was something different.

“I wanted to try something new, have fun and have a new experience,” she said.

Taylor Tennessee, a 14-year-old baton twirler, was in the same metaphorical boat. “I wanted to see some new things so I could come back and show them (to others),” she said.

The youngest person going on the trip will be 6-year-old Tionna Morales, and her goals for the trip were simple.

“I’ll twirl,” she said.

Six members of the Vidalia choir will also attend the event.