AHS, CHS singers featured in TMEA All-Region Concert in Midland

Eighteen students from Abilene ISD will be represented in 2017 Region 6 All-Region Choirs, sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association

Abilene High placed 10 students and Cooper High added eight more after auditions that were held Sept. 30 in Odessa. Thirteen of the students were selected to the All-Region Mixed Choir, while five more earned spots on the All-Region Treble Choir.

Both groups will perform in the All-Region Choir Concert at Midland Lee High School on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. Admission to the concert is $5.

All-Region Mixed Choir: Abilene High School:  Soprano II – Lindsay Rogers; Alto I – Holly Hutton, Mackenzie Stevens and Claire White; Bass I – Jacob Hutton; and Bass II – Jackson Stevens.

Cooper High School:  Soprano I – Nalani Abdullah and Clarissa Ingalls; Alto I – Baylee Schroedter; Tenor I – Donovan Jacques; Tenor II – Jonas Sims; and Bass I – Jacob Hinojosa and Christopher Huerta.

All-Region Treble Choir: Abilene High School: Soprano 2 – Hailey Isbell and Reagan Schmidt; Alto I – Lauren Hampton; and Alto 2 – Kia Smith.

Cooper High School: Alto I – Liliah Monroy.

The AHS choirs are under the direction of Wendy Weeks and Remel Derrick, while CHS choirs are directed by Cara Naizer and Chris Jorns.

AHS, CHS Bands Complete Successful Marching Season

The Abilene High and Cooper High marching bands punctuated a perfect marching season on October 23 with Division 1 ratings at the UIL Region Marching Contest at Abilene Wylie.

In addition, Cooper qualified for the UIL Class 5A Area Contest on Oct. 28 in Odessa, where the band reached the finals and placed 8th out of 25 bands. Only Class 3A and 5A continued in competitions beyond region in 2017. AHS will have an opportunity to advance in Class 6A next year.

Both Abilene ISD marching bands completed a clean sweep of Division1 ratings in both festivals and the UIL competition in 2017.

  • Big Country Marching Festival at Wylie – AHS received a Division 1 rating and outstanding color guard for the 6A classification. CHS received a Division 1 rating, outstanding band, outstanding color guard and outstanding drumline in 5A.
  • Mesquite Marching Festival – AHS received Division 1 rating.
  • West Texas Fair Parade – CHS took 1st place/best marching band.

The CHS band is directed by Clay Johnson, Jenny Reece, Patrick Stevenson and Rebecca Mathis. Paul Walker, Dr. Jon Kraemer, Christina Hurlbut and Brittany Tawater direct AHS.

Abilene ISD Places 14 on Region 6 All-Region Orchestra

 Abilene High and Cooper High each landed seven musicians on the Region 6 All-Region Orchestra, sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association.

The students earned their places on the honor orchestra after auditions in Odessa on October 28. They will perform with other regional winners in a concert at the Cooper High Auditorium on January 26 at 5 p.m.

AHS placed six students in the All-Region Symphonic Orchestra: Violin – Faith Fang, Ernesto Mendoza, Andrew Fink and Celeste Sanchez; Viola – Teran Hall and Aubreyanna Embers. Brissa Guzman also won a spot on the All-Region Philharmonic Orchestra in the bass.

Five CHS students placed in the All-Region Symphonic Orchestra: Violin – Danny Gil and Matheo Vergara; Viola – James Gumawid and Jacob Tellez; Cello – Jared Ripple. Two more made the All-Region Philharmonic Orchestra: Violin – Ashton Trevino and Cello – Allison Pope.

Both Abilene High School and Cooper High School orchestras are under the direction of Darcy Radcliffe and Fred Grigg.

65 Students Chosen for All-City Middle School Honor Band

Sixty-five AISD students were selected for the 2017 All-City Middle School Honor Band on October 17 after auditions at Clack Middle School.

The All-City Honor Band performed on November 4 at Abilene Christian University’s Cullen Auditorium.

Clack Middle School – Flute – Carlee Mahar, Taylor Hodges, and Daniela Tawiah; Oboe – Cherish Johnson; Clarinet – Ramiro Padilla, Isabella Bracamonte-Harrell, Hailey Barton, Ciera Coleman, and Abigail Murray

Alto Sax – Crystal Quade; Trumpet – Jacob Harper and Nevaeh Martinez-Valverde; French Horn – Jacob Benson; Trombone – Keairan Thompson and Lune Finch; Euphonium – Bryan Rowley, Brantley Warmack, and Ethan Echols; Percussion – Devonte Russell, and Travis Waters

Craig Middle School – Flute – Molly Daugherity; Oboe – JaeLynn Kalmar; Bassoon – Isaac Trinidad; Clarinet – Karissa Ward, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Elvira Estrada; Alto Sax – Courtney Molina; Tenor Sax – Jacob Valdez; Baritone Saxophone – Nicholas Hackney; Trumpet – Khushi Bhakta and Dawson Mullins; French Horn – Brooke Garduno, Micah George, and Hailie Seale; Trombone – Amir Lee; Tuba – Katalina Molina, Max Kidd, and Rowan Young; Percussion – Gabriel McCracken

Madison Middle School – Flute – Kayleigh Hopkins, Lilly Choang, Maylie Kidd, and Mackenzie Wasson; Bassoon – Sebastian Tardiff; Clarinet – Jaime Herrera, Eddie Stefan, Keera Johnson, Ariona French, and Kendal Santibanez; Bass Clarinet – Kalli Wilson; Alto Sax – Morgan Kruse; Trumpet – Xavier Wishert, Emma Martinez, Levi Castillo, Jimmy Hinson, Dylan Lujan, and McReivin Summers; French Horn – Meredith Clancy, Julianne Ballaro, and Paige Greenwood; Trombone – Jarred Rafan and Tristan McCrary; Euphonium – Duncan Lucas; Tuba – John David King; Percussion – Andrew Guadarrama, Trevor Cox, Cullen McMillon, Ronald Alexander, and Kylie Cox

Mann Middle School – Bass Clarinet – Kate Voss; Alto Sax – Piper Voss; Trumpet – Adrian Fowlkes; French Horn – Addyson Findley; Trombone – Gustavo Marquez and Finn Voss

The Abilene ISD band students are under the direction of the following teachers: Clack Middle School – Pearl Gonzales; Craig Middle School – Wayne Winner; Madison Middle School – Paula McGrew; and Mann Middle School – Mary Withers

Middle School Students Selected for Honor Choir

Middle School Choir students from AISD competed in the Texas Music Educators Association Region 6 Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir Audition on October 21 at Madison Middle School.

Honor Choir selections will perform in the All-Region Choir Concert at Huff Performing Arts Center in Clyde on November 11 at 5 p.m.

The following AISD students were selected for the Treble and Tenor/Bass Honor Choirs.

Clack Middle School – Treble: Gabrielle Lopez, Timareya Scott, Eliana Menjares, IcinikBanks, Da’Maesia Henry, Crystal Quade, and Emani Davis; and Tenor/Bass:  Kaleb Flores and Jordyn Escalera.

Craig Middle School – Treble:  Karissa Ward, Victoria Gao, Macy Wallace, Angelique Padilla, Aubrey Jacklewicz, Renee Slaughter, Ava Wilson, Delaney Ballentine, Hope Fambrough, Whitney Getz, Jenna Stevens, Molly Mercer, Cadei Carmona; and Tenor/Bass: Gabriel McCracken, Harrison Smith, Griffin Sullivan, Jericho Pace, Jude Strader, and Lorenzo Lopez.

Madison Middle School – Treble:  Linda Vorasane, McKayla Banks, Emily Martin, Shelbi Hart-Erwin, Agracianna De La Rosa, Shalom Mutombori, Lynzee Ellison, Hallie Stone, Kadence Viel, Victoria Rodriguez, Kattie Wetsel, and Tanalee Wood; Tenor/Bass: Logan Olson, Timothy Castillo, Braylon Ansley, Levi Bryan, Trevor Cox, and Brayden Flores.

Mann Middle School – Treble:  Viviana Hita-Murillo, Abby Hernandez, Mira Savage, Chloe Tamblyn, Amy Baysinger, Priscilla Rosales, Dharma Boyd, Khaedyn Shattah, and Ceriaya Fingers; Tenor/Bass:  Jayden Palacio, Aaron Owens, Koller Lackey, Alex Mehaffey, Michael Ruelas, and Jesus Reyes.

The middle school choir students are under the direction of the following directors: Clack – Katherine Cotten; Craig– Lyndsey Ransford; Madison – Hannah Ware; and Mann – Ginnylou Murphey.

Big Country Sixth Grade Honor Choir Selected

Choir students from the AISD middle schools competed in the Big Country’s Sixth Grade Honor Choir Audition on October 31 at First Baptist Church in Abilene.

Both honor choirs will perform in the All-Region Choir Concert at Huff Performing Arts Center in Clyde November 11 at 5 p.m.

Clack Middle School – Jazney McRae, Abelardo Surigao III and Logan Hamilton.

Craig Middle School – Olivia Horn, Cortnie Brazee, Kelsie Patterson, Macy Loudermilk, Kassandra Pizarro, Hope Arrazola, Addison Koslan, Elizabeth Harrison, Olivia Watts, Jentry Bennett, Jacob Mitchell and Joshua Thibault.

Madison Middle School – Natalie Lopez, Leigha Brannon, Alissa Bean, Ena Turnbow, Kayleigh Henry, Reese Winters, Ashley Sweeney, Ava Quinones, Mianna Houston, Alejandro Castillo, Heather James, Alayna Coppler and Bronwyn Ward.

Mann Middle School – Taylor Nevitt, Sara Bartlett, Bella Campo, Amiya Lewis, Gabriella London, Solya Lowe, Marly Gabriel and Anthony Hernandez.