Reed Smetter, Gabby Beltran, Alberto Martinez and Camille Cordova, members of San Benito High School’s Mighty Greyhound Band, recently performed with the prestigious Texas All-State Bands in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the 2015 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
“These four outstanding musicians were chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive process held this year across the state at district, region and area levels,” said Director of Bands Marc A. Perea, a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, an organization with over 11,000 members headquartered in Austin.
High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through several levels of auditions, beginning in the fall of 2014 to qualify at the state level. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive.
Over 1,600 students are selected through a process that begins with over 60,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 15 ensembles such as bands, orchestras and choirs.
“I would like to extend a special thank you to the band directors and parents that made this possible,” Perea said. “Congratulations to these outstanding musicians for representing San Benito CISD in one of the nation’s most prestigious music platforms for high school students to perform in. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments!”
Parker Longoria, a trumpet player, was chosen to represent San Benito in the TMEA Region 28 Jazz Band.
“A special congratulations goes out to Parker for making the Valley’s top high school Jazz ensemble,” Perea said. “Parker was selected as one of only ten trumpet players from the Valley to be in this ensemble. Parker also made the TMEA All-Area Jazz Band where only three trumpet players from South Texas are chosen.”
Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 28 TMEA Regions. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their region to compete against musicians from other areas in seven TMEA Area competitions.
The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in a TMEA All-State music group. Only the top three percent of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.
These All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally-recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances for thousands of attendees bring this extraordinary event to a close.
Shown are from left, Reed Smetter and Alberto Martinez, who performed with the prestigious Texas All-State Bands in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the 2015 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
Shown are from left, Camille Cordova and Gabriela Beltran, who performed with the prestigious Texas All-State Bands in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the 2015 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
Parker Longoria, a trumpet player, was chosen to represent San Benito in the Texas Music Educators Association Region 28 Jazz Band.