Hibike! Euphonium S3 — Episode 6 — 10 Second Anime

The concert band’s first round of auditions for the prefectural contest stresses out the Kitauji students.

Episode — “Wavering Dissonance”

Hmm.

Two things caught my eye in this week’s Hibike! Euphonium episode. First — Kumiko is in harmony with Taki-sensei. After Taki-sensei made the surprising decision to include a first-year beginner over an experienced musician, Kumiko understood his reasons involved the orchestra as a whole unit. The senior students have been through three years of this type of drama — wondering if someone was objectively better than the excluded players. That situation demonstrates the broader filter a mature outlook owns compared to the narrow perspective of high school students.

However, Mirei’s protective reaction to her friend Satsuki’s exclusion from the upcoming competition offered an emotional insight Kumiko lacked. The younger students need more specific reasons for someone making the cut and others missing it. Hibike! Euphonium has shown how the audition system worked previously — one time for the competition season. But what if another player improved during that time? This season’s system of auditions at each round of competition allows someone to replace an earlier pick. Satsuki could work on her loudness and jump over Suzume before the next round. It will be up to the section leaders to gather those notes from Taki-sensei and dole them out. Will Hibike! Euphonium show this wrinkle happen? Time will tell.

The second noteworthy thing in the episode was Kumiko blushing from a Taki-sensei compliment. Kumiko rarely talks to the concert band adviser by herself. So, she shared a rare moment with the famous conductor that she could call hers. Reina immediately noticed that! But that memory of a small moment connects to Kumiko keeping Asuka’s euphonium arrangement to herself instead of sharing it with Mayu. It’s okay to keep personal things personal. That’s part of growing up and establishing boundaries around an identity. Cherished memories help define individual personalities, Hibike! Euphonium shows us how Kumiko learns that.

Heh.

Ha! The young’uns don’t understand how film photograph copies work. Aw. Mayu isn’t in any of the pictures, just like a mother. Kumiko makes the best cynical faces at Kanade’s passive-aggressive teasing. Auditions are around the corner, and Mayu still feels reluctant to join.

Nice. Kumiko and Azusa share notes as band presidents and seniors. Azusa would love to see Kumiko go to music school. Kumiko’s friend says she plans to do something related to music after music college, not necessarily pursuing a professional musician’s career. Azusa can’t picture Kumiko not doing music after college.

Audition day. Kanade and Kumiko hope Mayu doesn’t throw her performance. Good. She did not.

Kumiko’s turn segues into the eye catches. The saxophone section takes its turn.

Who made it past the auditions? And whose hearts will break? So, the drama wasn’t about the euphoniums this time, but the tubas! Suzume made it in! Why? Hazuki gets to compete for the first time! Mirei needs an explanation but warns Kumiko that the second-years don’t revere Taki-sensei as much as the seniors do. Aw. Kumiko uses the “Hibike! Euphonium” song Asuka’s father wrote for her to recenter herself. It’s the name of the show, don’t you know! Oh? Kumiko is reluctant to share the melody with Mayu.

Ah. Kumiko and Taki-sensei are on the same page for how they think about the competition ensemble’s members. Polish the entire orchestra. Squee! Taki-sensei made Kumiko blush! The band will go to the Nationals through its abilities, not the talents of its conductor. Oho. Jealous Reina! But she’s happy about playing the solo parts with Kumiko.

It’s time for the first contest. Kitauji, fight!