By his own admission, if you would have told Mitchell Hourt at the beginning of the school year he’d be representing Palmerton Area High School in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Wind Ensemble concert this weekend, he’d have called you crazy.

The Palmerton junior said he always thought of himself as an “OK” trombone player. That “OK” player is the first Blue Bomber to be named an All-State instrumental performer since Tim Walck in 2002.

“It means a lot to be able to take our school and our community somewhere it hasn’t been in 17 years,” Hourt said on Monday night. “Music is such a big part of my life and this is a really great opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself.”

Hourt leaves for Pittsburgh today. His performance is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Fox Chapel Area High School.

The accomplishment is just the latest for a resurgent Palmerton music department.

“Our music program is growing by leaps and bounds,” Hourt said. “It just continues to go to new heights. Hopefully this brings even more respect to the program. I can’t wait to get out there and introduce the state to Palmerton.”

The journey to Pittsburgh was not an easy one for Hourt. At district auditions in December, he was ranked 10th in the seven county area known as District 10. At re-auditions during District Band, Hourt moved up to the top five, which qualified him for Region V Band. Hourt qualified for the state concert by scoring second highest during his trombone audition at regionals.

“It’s a long and challenging process and the further along I got, the more realistic it became,” Hourt said. “At regionals, when they announced the names of the students going to All-State, I was speechless. I saw my parents in the auditorium and ran over to give them a big hug. It was a lot of pressure and very rewarding.”

Hourt described the wind ensemble as smaller and more intimate than concert band.

“There are less people playing a part so you’re kind of singled out more than you would be in the concert band setting,” he added. “The music is some of the most rhythmically and technically challenging that I have had to play.”

While preparing for the concert, Hourt has been practicing a couple times a week since he received the music in the beginning of March.

In addition to playing with some of the best high school musicians in the state, Hourt is looking forward to the connections he will make during the four-day event.

“I’ll have the chance to be around so many like-minded people and we’re all working for a common goal,” he said.

Only a junior, Hourt hasn’t pinned down where his post high school career will take him. No matter what the future holds however, it’s safe to say music will play a role.

“I don’t know if it will necessarily be my career, but I play in the Palmerton Community Band so things like that will always keep that avenue open for me,” he said. “I have no intention of giving up on music.”