LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Veronica Cantu,

Laredo, Texas: The United ISD Fine Arts Department is proud to announce that nine music students, representing each of the District’s high schools, have been named “All-State” musicians with the Texas Music Educators Association.  This is first time all four high schools have an All-State recognition which is also a record achievement for United ISD.

“On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate these outstanding students on their All-State recognition,” said United ISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. “These students make us exceptionally proud…they prove that hard work and dedication towards a goal does pay off and now these students are the best of the best in the State!”

The United ISD All-State Musicians are as follows:

J.B. Alexander High School: Kihoon Rim, Bassoon; and Martin Tolentino, Bb Clarinet

Lyndon B. Johnson High School: Alex Moncivais, Trumpet

United High School Band: Joel Hernandez, Bb Clarinet; Rommel Nunez, Alto Sax; and

Jesus Diaz, Bass Trombone

United High School Choir: Sofia Briones, Choir (Soprano 1)

United South High School Band: Josue Gonzalez, Tenor Sax; and Jesus Mendoza, Trumpet

These students will perform with the Texas All-State (Band and Choir respectively) in San Antonio, Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the 2017 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.

“I would like to congratulate these fine students on their recognition as well as their band directors and assistant directors. This achievement is equivalent to winning the Super Bowl…these students have won the Super Bowl of Music!” said United ISD Fine Arts Director Javier Vera who explained that All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive.

Each of the students listed play at their respective campus under the direction of the following band directors and choir director:

J.B. Alexander High School Director: Joshua A. Martinez

Lyndon B. Johnson High School Director: Rene Peña

United High School Choir Director: Debbie Hernandez

United High School Band Director: John J. Mallon

United South High School Band Director: Francisco J. Sosa

Each band director is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, a 12,000+ member organization headquartered in Austin.

These students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed across the state through several levels of auditions, District, Region, an Area levels, beginning in the fall of 2016 to qualify at the state level. Over 1,600 students are selected through a process that begins with over 64,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 15 ensembles (bands, orchestras, and choirs). Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 33 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 3% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.