McKinney ISD high school band and choir students selected to All-State

by PegNews wire

Several McKinney ISD high school band and choir students were recently selected to Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Bands and All-State Choirs during auditions held in Tyler, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 6. The students will perform at the annual TMEA Clinic and Convention in San Antonio, Feb. 14 through 17.

McKinney High School had two band students selected to the TMEA All-State Band. Dalesa Bady, a senior trumpet player and Kate Lutek, a freshman clarinet player, were both selected to the All-State Band.

McKinney North High School had a total of six musicians selected to the All-State Band including sophomores Nicole Cassidy, (flute), Trey Perkins, (alto saxophone) and junior Kristen Crawley, (Eb clarinet). Also selected to the All-State band from McKinney North High School were seniors Ryan Gaughan, (bass clarinet), McKaye Dennis, (alto saxophone) and Andrew Hayes, (bass trombone).

Less than one percent of Texas band students that audition are selected to an All-State band.

In addition to the All-State Band selections, two students from the McKinney Boyd High School Choir were selected to TMEA All-State Choirs. Katie Webb, (Alto) and Jonathan Knott (Bass II) were both selected to the All-State Mixed Choir.

“More than 60,000 band, orchestra and choir students across the state of Texas begin the grueling audition process to become an All-State Band, Orchestra or Choir, member,” said Roy Renzenbrink, Director of Fine Arts with McKinney ISD. “If they make it through the three levels of auditions it takes to become and All-State Member then they truly are the best of the best. Our district is extremely proud of these fine musicians for their dedication to the musical arts.”

Band and choir students from across the state must be selected to Regional and Area bands and choirs in order to be eligible for All-State bands and choir selections. Auditions begin with Regional competition and students must be selected to an All-Region Choir or Band to advance to the Area auditions. Students that advance to the Area audition are selected from the first few chairs in each section of the highest All-Region Band. Those top students then go to a designated site to compete with the top students from all the other regions. Those students who place in the top few chairs in that audition become All-State Musicians.

“This is the highest honor that can be given a high school musician in the State of Texas,” Renzenbrink added. “We are also proud of their teachers and their parents for the great instruction and support they give these students every day.”

The band directors at McKinney High School are Gilbert Flores, Chris Brown and Scott Olsen. Band directors at McKinney North High School are Alan Harkey, Josh Kurzweil and Mike Myers. The choir directors at McKinney Boyd High School are Melissa Peden and Albert Torres.

Source: McKinney ISD