For Jacob Whittaker, Saturday’s performance was the result of years of hard work and dedication.

The Niles High School senior was one of 35 Niles symphonic band members competing in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s Solo and Ensemble Festival at Holland West Ottawa High School.

Whittaker has been in the Niles band program since the sixth grade and plans to major in music at Southwestern Michigan College next year. He also plans to play tuba in the college’s symphonic band.

The state competition was a chance for Whittaker to show all he’s learned.

“Band is my high school thing and so to be able to travel two hours to another city and have your performance critiqued and judged really hard — it helps you get that feeling you need as a musician,” said Whittaker, who played the tuba in a quintet with his high school team at the competition. The 500 or so students at the festival were not competing against each other. Instead, each soloist or ensemble was evaluated based on a state model.

Whittaker’s quintet received a superior rating, the highest award, according to band director Steve Gruver.

Thirty-three of the 35 Niles students received a superior rating. The other two received an excellent rating, one step below superior.

Gruver said Saturday’s competition offered students a unique experience. Instead of being one piece of a 100-person band, students played alone or in small groups.

“In band, you may have 10 trumpet players, so if they decide not to play a couple measures it doesn’t hurt the rest of the group,” he said. “In a small group like this, if they don’t play their part, it doesn’t get played. So there is that individual accountability that is so good.”

Sophomore Michael Geiger played an oboe solo in the competition.

“You just want to pick up on the things the judges tell you, and maybe you can use it or show it to some of the other band members,” he said.

Students qualified for the state competition by scoring well enough at a district competition in February.

The best performers at the state competition will be selected to perform at the upcoming Michigan Youth Arts Festival. Gruver said he would receive word on who is moving on within the next few days.