Cooper High School seniors Aaron Brokovich and Owen Bailey took first and third place, respectively, on April 1 at the Nelda Hodges Young Artist competition, sponsored by the Abilene Philharmonic. 

Brokovich won the contest’s $1,500 first-place prize that goes toward a college scholarship, while Bailey took the $750 third-place prize, also a college scholarship.

Brokovich performed two pieces on the marimba: “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and arranged by Robert Oetomo and “Asturias” by Isaac Albeniz and arranged by Leigh Howard Stevens. Bailey also performed two pieces on the oboe: “Woodsong” by Jenni Brandon and “Sonata for Oboe and Piano” by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Brokovich and Bailey made the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State band this year and performed at the TMEA Convention in February in San Antonio.

“These gentlemen have been great leaders for our program,” Cooper band director John Landin said. “They have both achieved the highest individual accomplishment of making the TMEA All-State band and serve as examples to the rest of our band on what they can achieve if they put in the work.”

Brokovich started his musical career with piano in first grade until he joined percussion in sixth grade. He has been the principal percussionist in the Abilene Youth Orchestra for three years and first chair in the CHS Wind Symphony for three years. He is also the drum captain for the Cooper Drumline, performing in marching band performances, drumline showcases, and indoor drumline. 

During his freshman year, Brokovich made the TMEA All-Region Freshman Band, and for the past three years, he has made the All-Region Symphonic Band and advanced to Area Auditions. At the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest, Aaron received a Division 1 for his solo and the prestigious Outstanding Performer award. Aaron made the TMEA 5A All-State Symphonic Band to wrap up his senior year. He plans to major in computer science and music at McMurry University.

Bailey serves as principal oboist for the Abilene Youth Orchestra and CHS Band. He was a founding member of the Quintessential Winds, a woodwind quintet organized by five young musicians seeking out performance opportunities beyond the scope of their school music programs. Last year, Bailey was awarded second place as a finalist in the Nelda Hodges Young Artist Competition. 

Most recently, Bailey performed as a Texas All-State oboist at the TMEA Convention. He serves on the CHS Student Council, an active community service organization serving Abilene and beyond. A high school senior, Owen plans to study music performance at Baylor University after graduation.

AHS Senior Headed to Prestigious Music School

Abilene High School senior Ethan Dunn, who has been part of the AHS Orchestra as well the highly recognized Revolution Strings, has been accepted to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, a prestigious, private performing arts conservatory in Boston that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theatre.

Dunn has qualified for the University Interscholastic League Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest by earning a first division rating on a Class 1 memorized solo at the UIL region contest on Feb. 18 at Abilene Wylie High School. Dunn was also one of six finalists in the Nelda Hodges Young Artist competition, sponsored by the Abilene Philharmonic.