Record number of band students going to state

Over 40 members of the Colorado High School Band competed in the UIL Solo/Ensemble Contest held at Angelo State University recently. An all-time high number of students did so well at the February 4th competition, they will go on to the state contest. Results of the contest in San Angelo follow.

•Tabbatha Angelo, Class 1 vocal solo, Division 1, going to State
•Tara Higgins, Class 1 vocal solo, Division 1, going to State
•Daniel Rodriguez, Class 2 vocal solo, Division 2
•Bethany Blassingame, Class 1 flute solo, Division 1, going to State
•Ana Ramirez, Class 2 flute solo, Division 3
•Emily Rivera, Class 3 flute solo, Division 1
•Kaysi Sims, Class 3 flute solo, Division 2
•Micah Minkina, Class 2 clarinet solo, Division 3
•Brittany Vasquez, Class 2 clarinet solo, Division 2
•Adriana Gomez, Class 1 alto sax solo, Division 1
•Jacob Ludwig, Class 2 alto sax solo, Division 2
•Trey Kimball, Class 1 bari sax solo, Division 1
•Jonathan Castillo, Class 1 trumpet solo, Division 1, going to State
•Alyssa Leverton, Class 2 French horn solo, Division 1
•Haley Maxwell, Class 2 French horn solo, Division 1
•Amanda Griffin, Class 1 baritone solo, Division 1, going to State
•Jaci Smith, Class 2 marimba solo, Division 1
•Class 1 Flute trio (with Bethany Blassingame, Ashli Cooper, Rainne Ruddick), Division 1, going to State
•Class 1 sax trio (with Tucker French, Vanna George, Adriana Gomez), Division 1, going to State

•Class 1 sax trio (with Matt Jackson, Landon Johns, Cason Smith), Division 1, going to State
•Class 1 trumpet quartet (with Alfredo Bueno, Matt Guerra, Lance Johns, Cody Thomas), Division 1, going to State
•Class 1 trombone quartet (with Amanda Griffin, Ashlyn Kildow, Joey Maberry, Daniel Rodriguez), Division 1, going to State
•Class 1 Percussion ensemble (with Jonathan Blassingame, Damian Davila, Michael Molina, Alex Salinas), Division 1 going to State
•Class 1 Percussion ensemble (with Alyssa Bonner, Damian Davila, Tucker French, Sarena Lujan, Jaci Smith), Division 1, going to State
Students selected solo and ensembles back in December before their Christmas break. Solo/Ensembles are classified by Division 1, 2, or 3, with 3 being the easiest and only performable by freshmen.
If a student learns a Class 1 solo, performs it by memory, and earns a Division 1 rating, they qualify for advancement to the state contest. If a group of students perform a Class 1 ensemble and earn a Division 1 rating, they also qualify for state.

These band students have put in many hours of hard work and preparation for the contest that is held each spring. CHS Band Directors Darin Johns, Elizabeth Wilson and Chaz Branch were proud of the success achieved by the students.

“We’re especially proud to be taking 31 students to state in May,” Johns said. “This is an all-time high for Colorado High School, or at least for the past eight years I’ve been here.”
The TSSEC (Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest) will be held in Austin at Pflugerville Hendrickson High School on May 28. Those students participating will leave on Saturday, May 26th, the day after graduation to go to Austin.

“When most kids are winding down and getting ready for school to get out for the summer, these band students will be practicing hard and preparing for State. We wish these students the best at their state competition,” said Johns.

Meanwhile, the CHS Band is preparing for UIL Concert/Sight-reading Contest that will be hosted by Colorado High School on March 1st.