NATCHEZ — Over the next few days, downtown Natchez will be filled with the sounds of French horns, tubas, clarinets and other instruments during the Mississippi Bandmasters Association 78th Annual State Band Clinic.

“We provide an opportunity for the best band students in Mississippi to participate in a clinic setting where they will hear many new concepts and hopefully take those back to their bands at home,” MBA President Matt Rowan said.

Band teachers nominate students from MBA member schools across the state to attend the event.

Once students arrive, they try out in front of judges to determine their placement. After that, they spend the rest of the four-day event in rehearsals and clinics taught by acclaimed directors and teachers.

But students aren’t the only ones who participate in the clinics. In addition to the 355 students Rowan said are expected, an additional 450 band directors are also expected to attend different clinics.

One of those directors is Suzi Phillips, who teaches band for grades five through 12 at Wesson Attendance Center in Wesson. Although she was busy assisting with registration Wednesday, she had already begun making decisions on which clinics she wanted to attend.

“You can always learn something new,” Phillips said.

It’s not Phillips’ first time at the event, nor is it the first time the band clinic has been in Natchez. This year’s clinic marks the fifth time the clinic has come to the city.

“It’s just a beautiful city,” Phillips said. “It has so much history.”

Rowan said housing everything in one general area for the clinic is optimum.

“The layout of the surrounding area really fits well with our clinic,” Rowan said. “Things are in walking distance.”

One of Phillips’ students, Dontrel Brown, a 15-year-old French horn player, started playing last year, which was also the first time he attended the clinic.

“It made me want to push to be better,” Brown said.

Brown said he enjoyed meeting other students and the clinic helped him learn different things, including his scales. Rowan said the clinic allows students get a chance to meet like-minded students from other schools.

“They’ll make friendships and memories here that they’ll carry through their lifetime,” Rowan said.

Another returning student, Kaitlyn Sills, 14, from Madison, came to play her clarinet for the Mississippi All-State Concert Band again.

“I’m first chair, so I’m excited to be able to do that this year,” Sills said.

Last year, Sills was 11th chair instead of first. It’s a move Sills said felt good, and one she’ll be able to take on tonight when she performs with the All-State Band at 7 p.m. at the Natchez City Auditorium.

The Hernando High School Symphonic Band and the University of Mississippi Wind Ensemble will also perform tonight.

The clinic’s grand finale concert will be at the Natchez Convention Center 11 a.m. Saturday.

Both concerts are free and open to the public. Seating for the concert tonight is limited.