Clarinetist Selected for Statewide Bands

Webb School of California 10th-grader Hanbo Xu ’25, a gifted clarinetist, has been chosen to perform this winter with both statewide and Southern California honor bands.

It is Xu’s second year in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association High School Honor Band’s wind ensemble. The group will rehearse Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21, before performing Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County.

He will also perform with the California Band Directors Association’s All-State Wind Symphony. The group will hold a seating audition on Thursday, Feb. 15, rehearse the following two days and perform Saturday, Feb. 18 in Fresno.

“I’m really excited for the two honor groups,” Xu said. “Not only will they be a musically rich experience, but it will also be a great opportunity to meet fellow musicians.”

Xu thanked Webb Director of Instrumental Music Linda Silva for assisting him with his preparation for the auditions.

For her part, Silva said Xu has worked hard for his success.

“This is a big honor for a high school student, as there is a huge pool of applicants from all over Southern California. We are so proud of him,” she said.

Xu primarily plays the Bb clarinet, or soprano clarinet in Bb, the most popular type of clarinet. He also plays an A clarinet, which is a requirement for advanced orchestral literature. He is the principal clarinetist with (the) Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra.

“I used to play the clarinet because my parents wanted me to play it. But in the past year or so, I’ve really begun to love playing the clarinet simply for the sake of playing it, of enjoying it,” he said.

Xu hopes to double major in music and a STEM field.