<p>I’d do HBOA. Music organizations just don’t like no shows. You take the place of a person who would have been able to go and they don’t often do alternates or waitlist people for one day or weekend events. No slows reflect poorly on your director and school. If you haven’t auditoned yet for State, they shouldn’t count it against you if you take a year off and do it next year.</p>
<p>The only thing would be cost to your family, travel, etc of national vs. state but I’m assuming you’ve already considered that. Practically anything you would do on a national level would trump state participation.</p>
<p>I also wouldn’t assume you would automatically get into HBOA next year if you have already applied, were accepted and now decline. You are already a know entitity in your state, not so much there.</p>