ABILENE – Two Abilene ISD students – one at Abilene High and one at Cooper – earned Texas Music Educators’ Association (TMEA) all-state band honors earlier this month>

Nathaniel Hernandez, a senior at AHS, placed first chair at the Area auditions in Odessa and was selected to the Class 6A all-state band on E Flat clarinet. Amanda Strickland, a senior at Cooper, earned first chair at area and was selected to the Class 5A all-state band on the French horn.

Hernandez and Strickland will participate in the TMEA Convention clinics from February 12-15, 2020, at the Henry Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio and will perform on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in the Lila Cockrell Theater of the Convention Center.

Below is a complete list of students from both Abilene High and Cooper who earned all-region honors from the TMEA in both band and orchestra:

  • Three Abilene High School students were selected for the All-Region Freshman Band: Isaac Trinidad – Bassoon; Joselyn Sanchez – Clarinet; and Dawson Mullins – Trumpet.
  • Six Cooper High School students were selected for the All-Region Freshman Band: Royce Bandora – Flute; Isabella Bracomonte-Harrell – Clarinet; Taylor Hvidt – Sax; Lucas Duncan – Euphonium; and Aaron Brokovich and Kai Rosario – Percussion.
  • Seven Abilene High School students were selected for the All-Region Concert Band: Emma Pfrimmer – flute; Kaylee Bentle – Clarinet; Coleman Patterson – Sax; Adrian Fowlkes – Trumpet; Brooke Garduno – French Horn; Connor Mullins – Tenor Trombone; and Amir Lee – Bass Trombone.
  • Ten Cooper High School students were selected for the All-Region Concert Band: Sebastian Tardiff – Bassoon; Madison Warren, Erin Gutshcke, and Sonali Bhikha – Clarinet; Sydney Nunn – Sax; Katherine Woodard – French Horn – Colby Gilley – Tenor Trombone; William Harper – Tuba; Ricardo Hinojosa and Miller Banister – Percussion.
  • Seven Abilene High School students were selected for the All-Region Symphonic Band: Olivia Marquez – Flute; Nicholas Gonzalez, Karissa Ward, and Jada Williams – Clainet; Nathaniel Hernandez – E Flat Clarinet; Parker Fowlkes – French Horn; and Brian Lester – Euphonium.
  • Six Cooper High School students were selected for the All-Region Symphonic Band: Isaac Lock – Trumpet; Amanda Strickland – French Horn; Jeremiah Gonzales, Jacob Moore, and Robert Tinney – Trombone; and John David King – Tuba.
  • Three Abilene High School band students were selected for the TMEA Region Orchestra: Olivia Marquez – Flute; Jada Williams – Clarinet; and Parker Fowlkes – French Horn.
  • Four Cooper High School band students were selected for the TMEA Region Orchestra: Isaac Lock – Trumpet; Jacob Moore and Jeremiah Gonzales – Trombone; and Amanda Strickland – French Horn and John David King – Tuba.

The Abilene High School band students are under the direction of Jonathan Kraemer, Tyler Jacks, and Christina Hurlbut. The Cooper High School Band students are under the direction of Matthew Raines, Jessica Fox, and Patrick Stevenson.