State Solo & Ensemble Contest
On Monday, May 26, several of our students competed at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Austin. These students did a great job representing themselves and the Big Blue Band in Austin. These are the students who received medals for their performances at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest:
Receiving a Superior Rating on her Class 1 Solo: Michelle Elliott (Flute)
Receiving Excellent Ratings on their Class 1 Solos: Zach Ogles (Percussion), Nacho Alvarado (Percussion), Antonio Paramo (Trumpet), Ashley Nichols (Flute), David Hatteberg (Percussion), Shelby Harris (Percussion)
Receiving Superior Ratings on their Class 1 Ensembles: Randy Beisert, Rebecca Anderson, and Desiree Gonzalez (Clarinet Trio); Michelle Elliott, Chris Herrada, Ashley Nichols, Jessica Stroup, Charity Banks, and Susana Salazar (Flute Choir)
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
Congratulations to LAUREN HALL!!! Lauren is the newest member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. She auditioned against many percussionists around the metroplex and was chosen for this very prestigious group!!! Way to go Lauren!!!
Murchison Festival
Congratulations to our bands!!! On Thursday, May 15 our bands performed at the Murchison Festival at the University of North Texas. The Concert Band received Excellent ratings and four Citations of Excellence. The Symphonic Band received Superior ratings and six Citations of Excellence. The Honors Band was the Overall Outstanding Band and received Superior ratings and thirteen Citations of Excellence. Way to go Bands!!!!
Region Solo & Ensemble Contest
On Saturday, February 9, 2008, 109 members of the Big Blue Band competed at the Region III UIL Solo/Ensemble Contest. Band members received 66 First Division Medals for Superior Ratings on their solos. Additionally, 12 students played their Class 1 solos (the hardest available) from memory qualifying them to perform at the State Solo/Ensemble contest in May. We also had five ensembles receive Superior ratings on their ensembles (three of which qualified for the State Solo/Ensemble as well). Overall, the Big Blue Band received 101 medals at this extremely rigorous contest!
Students receiving a First Division on their Solo: Class One Solos - Nacho Alvarado, Charity Banks, Abraham Castillo, Michelle Elliott, Kim Haigis, Shelby Harris, David Hatteberg, Tyler Ledbetter, Ashley Nichols, Zach Ogles, Antonio Paramo, Susana Salazar, Rebecca Anderson, Judith Barcelo, Randy Beisert, James Black, Christopher Chavez, Niall Coursey, Brianna Darnell, Desmond Edwards, Bethany Franklin, Ivonne Garcia, Desiree Gonzalez, Lauren Hall, Jennifer Harter, Jaslyn Heggins, Chris Herrada, Joseph Jergovic, Brian Killingsworth, Kevin Malazzo, Roy Mennel, Edward Reyes, Ritchie Rubalcado, Spencer Speed, Kristopher Reeves, Laura Tillberg, Ralph Watkins, Caleb Wood, Chris Zavala; Class Two Solos - Matthew Asiaban, Aundrea Blackmon, Victoria Bishop, Jacob Curry, Shea Curry, Emily Glen, Megan Hernandez, Katelyn Klick, Christina Lemos, David Marrufo, Alexandra Martinez, Sarah McCay, Lee McGibboney, Rachel Mills, Joshua Newsome, Arazely Paramo, Aly Pineda, Stephane Rovelo, Jessica Stroup, Katie Thompson, Miguel Vargas; Class Three Solos - Arhely Ferrer, Lashone Garrett, Keira Leslie, Jesus Martinez, Arlen Nelson, Jason Tillberg
Ensembles receiving a First Division: (Trombone Choir, Symphonic Percussion Ensemble, Flute Choir, Clarinet Trio, Honors Band Percussion Ensemble) Brian Killingsworth, Roy Mennel, Kristopher Reeves, Ralph Watkins, Caleb Allen, Nacho Alvarado, Kevin Berry, William Boshart, Abraham Castillo, Shelbie Durham, Collin Gerner, Hailey Goodwin, Shelby Harris, Andy Hurst, Austin Johnson, Daniel King, Jordan Murr, Torie Tucker, Charity Banks, Michelle Elliott, Chris Herrada, Ashley Nichols, Susana Salazar, Jessica Stroup, Rebecca Anderson, Randy Beisert, Desiree Gonzalez, Nacho Alvarado, John Brooks, David Hatteberg, Tyler Ledbetter, Justin Lee, David Mills, Zach Ogles, Spencer Speed
Students receiving a First Division on their Class One Solo and qualifying for State Solo/Ensemble Contest: Nacho Alvarado, Charity Banks, Abraham Castillo, Michelle Elliott, Kim Haigis, Shelby Harris, David Hatteberg, Tyler Ledbetter, Ashley Nichols, Zach Ogles, Antonio Paramo, Susana Salazar
Ensembles receiving a First Division on their Class One Ensemble and qualifying for State Solo/Ensemble Contest: (Flute Choir, Clarinet Trio, Honors Percussion Ensemble) Charity Banks, Michelle Elliott, Chris Herrada, Ashley Nichols, Susana Salazar, Jessica Stroup, Rebecca Anderson, Randy Beisert, Desiree Gonzalez, Nacho Alvarado, John Brooks, David Hatteberg, Tyler Ledbetter, Justin Lee, David Mills, Zach Ogles, Spencer Speed
Area Members
Congratulations to Chris Herrada! He placed 2nd at the Area Competition on piccolo and is the 1st Alternate to the All-State Band! Way to go Chris!!!!!
All-Region Band Members
Congrats to: Wind Ensemble member (and Area qualifier): Chris Herrada – FIRST CHAIR Piccolo; Wind Symphony member: Randy Beisert – 4th Chair Clarinet; Symphonic Band members: Charity Banks – 4th Chair Flute, Angela Coats – 10th Chair Clarinet, Rebecca Anderson – 14th Chair Clarinet, Kim Haigis – 2nd Chair Euphonium, Shelbie Durham – 3rd Chair Euphonium; Concert Band members: Michelle Elliott – 5th Chair Flute, Desiree Gonzalez – 5th Chair Clarinet, Edward Reyes – 6th Chair Trumpet, Roy Mennel – 5th Chair Trombone, Veronica Renteria – 3rd Chair Tuba, Nacho Alvarado – 6th Chair Percussion; Region Band Alternates: Ashley Nichols – Flute Alternate, Jessica Stroup – Flute Alternate, Richie Rubalcado – Euphonium Alternate; 9th Grade Region Band: Brianna Darnell – Clarinet, Desmond Edwards – Clarinet Alternate, David Hattaberg – Percussion Alternate
9th Grade All-Region Band
Way to go! Desiree Gonzalez (Bb Clarinet - top right) - Member of the 9th Grade Band! Brianna Darnell (Bb Clarinet - top left), Desmond Edwards (Bb Clarinet - top center), and David Hatteberg (Percussion - bottom) - Alternates to the 9th Grade band!
Mesquite Marching Festival
Big Blue Band - 1st Division Rating
Way to go Big Blue!!!!
Congratulations Drumline!
Plano Drumline Competition
3rd Place in Class AA
Best Bass Line
Click here to see the Big Blue Band in action.
(from DallasNews.com)