Two Cooper High School students earned all-state band honors after competing at the Texas Music Educators Association Region 6 auditions on Dec. 10 at Abilene High School and the area auditions on Jan.7 at Odessa Permian.

Senior Owen Bailey placed first on oboe at the Class 6A area round of competition and earned third chair in the Class 6A all-state Symphonic Band, while senior Aaron Brokovich placed first chair at the 5A area audition on percussion and earned 10th chair in the Class 5A all-state Symphonic Band. Bailey and Brokovich also earned all-region and all-area honors along the way. 

Bailey, who missed making all-state each of the two previous years by one chair, tried out for the Class 6A band because more spots were available, and he ended up earning first chair. Students are given the option to audition in a higher classification if they choose.

Bailey and Brokovich will be part of the all-state bands performing at the TMEA Convention, Feb. 8-1, in San Antonio.

AISD had several other students from both high schools begin the audition process on Dec. 5 at AHS. Most moved on to the Phase 2 region auditions on Dec. 10, also at AHS.

The following students made all-region bands:

  • Abilene High – freshman Colt Moreland (bassoon, Concert Band); Isaac Trinidad (bassoon, Symphonic Band); Renee Barber (clarinet, Freshman Band); Sydney Spell (clarinet, Concert Band); Ethan Atkins (bass clarinet, Concert Band), Lianna Pfrimmer (French horn, Concert Band); Anson Cobarruvias (tenor trombone, Symphonic Band); Adi Pilit (euphonium, Concert Band); Duke Decker (percussion, Freshman Band); Brady Lambert (percussion, Freshman Band); Jackson Liske (percussion, Freshman Band); Mattie Spaulding (percussion, Concert Band); and Mallory Traylor (percussion, Symphonic Band).
  • Cooper High School – Owen Bailey (oboe, Symphonic Band); Aaron Brokovich (percussion, Symphonic Band); Jonathon Carranza (trumpet, Symphonic Band); Derek Crespo (trumpet, Concert Band); Elijah Estrada (tenor saxophone, Freshman Band); Peyton Ewing (trombone, Freshman Band); Kenneth Heck (trombone, Concert Band); Mikado Lam (tuba, Freshman Band); Isiah Lima (alto saxophone, Symphonic Band); Brendan Moore (alto saxophone, Freshman Band); Rylan Murray (clarinet, Concert Band); Arianna Normand (clarinet, Freshman Band); Aaron Reece (French horn, Symphonic Band); Isis Salazar (flute, Freshman Band); and Tristan Tardiff (oboe, Symphonic Band).

The schools combined to send 16 students to the Area auditions at Odessa Permian on Jan. 7. These included:

  • Abilene High School – Moreland (bassoon), Trinidad (bassoon), Spell (clarinet), Atkins (bass clarinet), Pfrimmer (French horn), Cobarruvias (tenor trombone), and Pilit (euphonium).
  • Cooper High School – Bailey (oboe), Brokovich (percussion), Carranza (trumpet), Crespo (trumpet), Heck (trombone), Lima (alto saxophone), Murray (clarinet), Reece (French horn), and Tardiff (oboe).