By RICH KEITH, Four Points News
The Vandegrift High School band participated in the Texas Music Educator’s Association or TMEA Region 26 Band audition on Saturday. Students advancing from the audition will play a series of concerts in January under the direction of a distinguished visiting conductor.
“This is the first step in the process to be named a TMEA All-State Musician, which is the highest honor a high school band student can receive,” said director of bands Jeremy Spicer.
In a school-record audition performance, band students secured 39 chairs in the Region Bands and another 10 students being named to the District Band. The auditions were held at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock.
photo by Rich Keith
VHS tied for first with perennial top contender Westwood High School for the most number of students represented in the Region Bands.
“This is a huge accomplishment and one the band staff is extremely proud of,” Spicer said. “Importantly, 11 of our 39 students also advanced to the Area D level.”
There are seven TMEA areas in Texas. The 11 Vandegrift students advancing will continue their pursuit of an All-State chair at the area auditions in January. Vandegrift has produced one All-State musician in its history, tubist Matthew Szostak in 2011.
PICCOLO
Arvind Sundar – Concert Band
FLUTE
Austin Isburgh – AREA, Symphonic Band
Yilong Peng – Symphonic Band
Olivia Schmitz – AREA, Concert Band
Lienne Ng – Concert Band
Amulya Angajala – Concert Band
Danielle LeBleu – Concert Band
CLARINET
Taylor Gaskins – AREA, Symphonic Band
Kyle Barth – Symphonic Band
Patricio Dieck – Symphonic Band
Jasmine Sundar – District Band
OBOE
Max Askari – AREA, Concert Band
Nikki Jaynes – District Band
BASSOON
Hannah Parrott – District Band
BASS CLARINET
Luis Perales – Symphonic Band
Hunter Smith – Concert Band
CONTRA BASS CLARINET
Lane Chipman – AREA, Symphonic Band
ALTO SAX
Ben Borer – Concert Band
TENOR SAX
Ryan Hill – AREA, Symphonic Band
BARITONE SAX
Cale Howard – District Band
TRUMPET
Matt Carpenter – AREA, Symphonic Band
Luke Hill – Symphonic Band
Darren Castrillon – Concert Band
Miles Bentley – Concert Band
Cassie Ellswood – Concert Band
Amy Lee – District Band
Austin Gray – District Band
FRENCH HORN
Jenni Abbarno – AREA, Symphonic Band
Caroline Slater – AREA, Symphonic Band
Emily Jensen – Concert Band
Alex Moore – Concert Band
Katelin Maatz – Concert Band
Graham Scott – Concert Band
TENOR TROMBONE
Heather Sundar – AREA, Symphonic Band
Bella Olson – Symphonic Band
David Meeks – Concert Band
BASS TROMBONE
Zach Burky – AREA, Symphonic Band
EUPHONIUM
Max Bernhardt – Symphonic Band
Mitchell Fisher – Concert Band
Calvin Geng – Concert Band
Emily Krause – District Band
TUBA
Forrest Keith – AREA, Symphonic Band
Mark Peterman – Symphonic Band
PERCUSSION
Michael Dang – Concert Band
Kyle Richardson – Concert Band
Aric Hasting – Concert Band
Sam Yarbrough – District Band
Nsa Ita – District Band
Daniel Pleshek – District Band