These Amarillo-area students are performing this week in Texas All-State band, choir, orchestra

Alex Driggars, Amarillo Globe-News
·4 min read
Nine Canyon High School Band students were selected to perform in the Texas All-State Band at this year's clinic and convention. Canyon ISD had 34 students combined across all three high schools in band and choir compete this year.
Nine Canyon High School Band students were selected to perform in the Texas All-State Band at this year's clinic and convention. Canyon ISD had 34 students combined across all three high schools in band and choir compete this year.

Each fall, more than 70,000 Texas high school musicians audition for a spot in one of the All-State instrumental and vocal ensembles. Out of the many auditionees, just about 1,800 students are selected for one of the 18 choirs, bands and orchestras, including more than four dozen from Amarillo, Canyon and the Panhandle.

Organized by the Texas Music Educators Association and the Association of Texas Small School Bands, students prepare assigned repertoire for a series of rigorous auditions at the region and area levels to qualify for state.

"TMEA sponsors the Texas All-State audition process to promote students’ dedication to their musical knowledge and skill and to encourage educators to support their students in this development," reads the TMEA website. Selection to All-State is considered one of the highest achievements for a high school musician in Texas.

Qualifying for an All-State ensemble affords students the opportunity to travel to TMEA's annual convention in San Antonio, where they will spend several days in demanding rehearsals while their teachers and thousands of other music educators from across Texas attend workshops and masterclasses.

This year's convention begins Wednesday this week, culminating with the All-State concert performances on Saturday.

Below are the 53 students from Amarillo area who will be performing in one of the ensembles. Listed is each student's name, classification, school, instrument or voice part, and the name of the ensemble they were selected for.

Band

  • Andrea Borron, senior, Randall HS — bassoon, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Seidel Denning, junior, Randall HS — trumpet, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Jack Klein, sophomore, West Plains HS — F horn, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Noah Killough, junior, West Plains HS — tenor trombone, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Laci Grosser, senior, Amarillo HS — bass trombone, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Brady Neese, junior, Amarillo HS — euphonium, 5A Symphonic Band

  • Micaela Cruz, senior, Canyon HS — flute, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Xander Aleman, senior, Hereford HS — B-flat clarinet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Brenna Ware, sophomore, Canyon HS — B-flat clarinet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Lily Stephens, sophomore, West Plains HS — B-flat clarinet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Liam Stayton, junior, Canyon HS — bass clarinet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Owen Stayton, junior, Canyon HS — alto saxophone, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Allyssa Schulz, junior, Randall HS — trumpet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Addison Ellis, junior, West Plains HS — trumpet, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Anika McNeely, junior, Hereford HS — F horn, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Jack Cowart, junior, Canyon HS — tenor trombone, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Daniel Bliss, senior, Canyon HS — tenor trombone, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Caleb O'Donnell, senior, Randall HS — euphonium, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Miguel Grajeda, senior, Dumas HS — tuba, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Jacob Ortiz, sophomore, Canyon HS — percussion, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Angelina Sanchez, junior, Canyon HS — percussion, ATSSB Symphonic Band

  • Natalie Cruz, senior, Randall HS — contra-bass clarinet, 4A All-State Band

  • Brynlee Miller, junior, Canyon HS — bassoon, 4A All-State Band

  • Asher Hardisty, sophomore, West Plains HS — tenor saxophone, 4A All-State Band

  • Kate Vest, junior, Bushland HS — B-flat clarinet, ATSSB Concert Band

  • Tori Palacio, senior, Bushland HS — B-flat clarinet, ATSSB Concert Band

  • Emma Wewel, senior, Bushland HS — trumpet, ATSSB Concert Band

Choir

  • Elanna Weber, junior, Amarillo HS — soprano 2, Mixed Choir

  • Noah Bellis, senior, Tascosa HS — tenor 1, Mixed Choir

  • Brilon Lichtie, senior, Randall HS — tenor 2, Mixed Choir

  • Mark D. Pinkerton, senior, Canyon HS — bass 1, Mixed Choir

  • Trace Thomas, sophomore, Canyon HS — bass 1, Mixed Choir

  • Zachary Franklin, senior, Plainview HS — bass 2, Mixed Choir

  • Kai O'Donnell, sophomore, Randall HS — soprano 1, Treble Choir

  • Megan Pullen, sophomore, Canyon HS — soprano 2, Treble Choir

  • Michal Black, junior, Randall HS — alto 1, Treble Choir

  • Aidan Gilbert, senior, Randall HS — tenor 1, Tenor-Bass Choir

  • Cooper Savage, junior, Plainview HS — tenor 2, Tenor-Bass Choir

  • William Booth, senior, Amarillo HS — bass 2, Tenor-Bass Choir

  • Zaddok Mullins, junior, Canyon HS — bass 2, Tenor-Bass Choir

  • Kate Smith, senior, Pampa HS — soprano, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Abbie White, junior, Pampa HS — soprano, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Landri Bice, sophomore, Canyon HS — soprano, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Grace Vareed, junior, Canyon HS — alto, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Georgia Upshaw, senior, Canyon HS — alto, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Brooklyn Cano, freshman, Borger HS — alto, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Kaysley Owen, sophomore, Canyon HS — alto, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Zara Salazar, senior, Canyon HS — alto, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Aidan Chapleau, senior, Pampa HS — tenor, Small School Mixed Choir

  • J. Clark Allen, senior, Pampa HS — bass, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Phillip Clark, sophomore, Canyon HS — bass, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Dylan Underwood, senior, Canyon HS — bass, Small School Mixed Choir

  • Payton Reinhart, senior, Borger HS — bass, Small School Mixed Choir

Orchestra

  • Quan Nguyen, freshman, Amarillo HS — violin 2, Philharmonic Orchestra

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area students performing Texas All-State band choir orchestra