More than 50 Abilene ISD Fine Arts students earned either a gold or silver medal on May 30 at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest at the Butler School of Music on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin and at various Pflugerville ISD campuses.

Band, choir, and orchestra students from both Abilene High School and Cooper High School competed in the UIL event that was hosted by the Pflugerville ISD. Performers who earned a first division rating on a Class 1 memorized solo and ensemble were honored with a gold medal and those who earned a second division rating on a Class 1 memorized solo were honored with a silver medal.

The following students received a Division 1 solo rating and a gold medal:

Abilene High School band – Courtney Molina (alto saxophone), Mattie Spaulding (marimba).

Cooper High School band – Aaron Brokovich (marimba).

Abilene High School choir – Alex Dacanay, Vicky Gao, Mira Savage, Alan Mercer, Carrie Mercer, Shelby Anders, Hope Arrazola, Harrison Smith, Daniel Seo, and Gabe McCracken.

Cooper High School choir – Timothy Castillo, Brayden Flores, Jeremiah Thomas, Mathis Kanda, Trevor Cox, Amanda Mora, Julie Bewane, and Trinity Fernandez.

Abilene High School orchestra – Ethan Dunn (violin), Frank Fang (cello).

Less than 20 percent of students statewide who qualify for the TSEEC in Austin are awarded first-division ratings.

The following students also medaled, receiving a Division 2 solo rating and a silver medal:

Abilene High School band – William Marshall (trumpet), Brooke Garduno (French horn), Mallory Traylor (marimba), and Tate Eller (marimba).

Cooper High School band – Jonathon Carranza (trumpet), Meredith Clancy (French horn), Aaron Reece (French horn), John David King (tuba), Ronald Alexander (marimba), and Logan Wyatt (marimba).

Abilene High School choir – Neveah McGough, Griffin Sullivan, Kaylie Enriquez, Myra Thomas, Josh Melson, Aiden Schwartz, Asher Shelburne, Taylor Nevitt, Belle Marz, and Nolan Sullivan.

Cooper High School choir – Kadence Viel, Gabie Lopez, Emani Davis, Kyler Wheeler, Kaley Rutledge, Ian Martin, and Avery Simer.

Cooper High School orchestra – Kaden Miller (bass).

The Abilene High School band students are under the direction of Dr. Jon Kraemer, Alanna Curley, and Drew Young.  The Cooper High School band students are under the direction of John Landin, Jessica Fox, and Patrick Stevenson.

The Abilene High School choir students are under the direction of Wendy Weeks and Remel Derrick.  The Cooper High School choir students are under the direction of Cara Naizer and Josh Westman.

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