Four Abilene ISD Students Earn TMEA All-State Honors

Four Abilene ISD students, Revolution Strings and a trumpet ensemble that includes AISD Executive Director of Fine Arts, Jay Lester, will perform next week at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Annual meeting, Feb. 9-12, in San Antonio.

The four students who earned TMEA all-state honors are:

• Trevor Cox, senior, Cooper High School, Tenor II, All-State Tenor-Bass
• Hope Arrazola, sophomore, Abilene High School, Alto 1, All-State Treble Choir
• Harrison Smith, senior, Abilene High School, Tenor 2, All-State Mixed Choir
• Aaron Reece, sophomore, Cooper High School, Horn, Sinfonietta Orchestra (Class 5A All-State)

Each of those students – as well as students in Revolution Strings – will be recognized at the monthly meeting of the AISD Board of Trustees on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.

Those four all-state performers joined more than 70,000 musicians from across Texas to audition in front of a panel of judges in 33 TMEA regions. Students who ranked the highest advanced to compete against student musicians from other TMEA regions at the TMEA area level with the highest-ranking musicians qualifying for all-state status.

The all-state musicians will perform with their respective groups on Saturday, Feb. 12. Conductors and directors from around the country will work with all-state students for three days before the convention wraps with their concerts on the final day.

“The TMEA experience for All-State musicians is life-changing,” Lester said. “Being surrounded by such high-level talent and instruction enhances a student’s participation in the activity. This event will be one that is remembered for a lifetime.”

Revolution Strings has been invited to perform on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 8:15 am in the Lila Cockrell Theatre. Their performance entitled “Celebrating Music Together” will be presented during the First General Session along with performances from the following groups: Baylor Gold Trumpet Ensemble, Brothers in Song, students from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Dallas ISD), and students from James Bowie High School (Austin ISD).

TMEA leadership extended this invitation after discovering Revolution’s “Hello World” video on You Tube. The video was recorded in April 2021 entirely in the AHS and CHS Orchestra rooms.  Sound equipment was set up and taken down each day and recordings were made in between class bells ringing and then continued during after-school hours.  Green screens were set up and each student was recorded one at a time.

In 2020, Revolution Strings presented a clinic on how to Ignite a String Playing Revolution and gave a Showcase Performance at TMEA. In 2009, Revolution Strings performed for the President’s Dinner, the Superintendent’s Luncheon, and for the Second General Session at TMEA.

“Revolution Strings is no stranger to TMEA or other state and national conventions,” Lester said. “These students perform like professionals with a stage presence that wows audiences. Because of their reputation for being so good and sought after, it is no surprise that TMEA chose them for this live convention following a year with a virtual event.”

In addition to each of those performances, Lester – who plays with the Big Spring and San Angelo Symphonies – will present a concert recital, along with 13 other musicians as part of the Musical Showcase series offered at the Texas Music Educators Association convention on Thursday (Feb. 10) at 12:30 p.m.  The program will feature three new arrangements: a new original composition, and other existing pieces including music from “Star Wars,” the “Holy Grail/Spamalot,” “La Peri,” and “Arabian Dances.”

Along with five other professional trumpeters from West Texas universities and symphonies, Lester helped charter the affiliate chapter of the International Trumpet Guild in 2016. The group has performed annually in recitals in Abilene, San Angelo, and Odessa, and has presented concerts at TMEA in 2019 and at the ITG conference in 2018. This recital will also feature percussionist, Drew Young, who is in his first year as an assistant band director at Abilene High School.

Other members of the Lone Star. State Trumpet Guild include Dr. David Amlung (McMurry/ACU/HSU/Key City Brass), Dr. Leighanne Hunsaker (Abilene Philharmonic/HSU-retired), Dr. Bernie Scherr (HSU/McM/Key City Brass), Dr. John Irish (ASU/San Angelo Symphony), Dr. John Kennedy (San Angelo Symphony/South Plains College-retired), Dr. Ben Fairfield (Abilene Philharmonic/Midland-Odessa Symphony), Eric Baker (Odessa College/Midland-Odessa Symphony), Andy Patterson (Arlington ISD), Dr. Brandon Houghtalen (ACU/Key City Winds), Dr. Jeff Cottrell (HSU/ACU/McM/San Angelo Symphony/Key City Brass), and conductor, Dr. Steven Ward (ACU/Abilene Civic Orchestra).

“Since its inception, the Lone Star State Trumpet Guild has grown in reputation and in audience demand,” Lester said. “In only six years, the group has twice been invited to perform at the TMEA and the International Trumpet Guild conventions. I am proud to perform alongside such notable trumpeters and look forward to influencing audiences with new music at the recital this year.”