118 Plainview High School band students advance to state competition
Plainview High School band students walked away with 169 first division medals and 118 students advancing to the state competition following the Region 16 UIL Band Solo and Ensemble Contest held on Feb. 24 at Coronado High School in Lubbock.
PHS entered 153 students in the competition. The students advancing to state include 18 soloists and 30 ensembles involving 118 students. Of those advancing to state, 30 students advanced in multiple events; some students are advancing with a solo and ensemble, others are advancing with two separate ensembles. The PHS group also has the distinction of having eight pairs of siblings in the group headed to state.
“To have this many students earning medals and advancing is very exciting! It is a great testament to the talent and work ethic of these students!” said band director Anthony Gonzales.
In order to advance to state on a solo, each student must play a “Class 1” solo by memory and receive a first division rating from a judge. Ensembles must also be a “Class 1” ensemble and receive a first division rating from a judge. Ensembles are not required to have their music memorized. “Class 1” music events are the most challenging level on the UIL music list. Students are allowed to participate in two different events.
To prepare for the competition, students received coaching from the band staff as well as rehearsing before and after school hours.
Students were accompanied on the piano by Dr. Gary Belshaw, Dr. Kennith Freeman, and Mrs. Julia Franklin.
During the performances, all students were required to set their own tempos and to start and end each piece together with no conductors in the room. Ziegler explained these events teach students to be self-dependent and co-dependent within the ensemble. It also strengthens each musician in multiple ways.
Students earning first division medals performing non-advancing music are Khole Barrientos, Alejandra Reyes, Alyssa Hurta, Regina Covarrubias, Joseph Pacheco, Vanessa Arzabala, Katelyn Kelley, Abigail Landeros, Nataly Parga, Taylor Reynolds, Raiden Gonzales, Jeremiah Armijo, Brendan Duran, Paizly Madrigal, and Joshua Wolovnik
Soloists advancing to state competition are Joseph Alcozer, Orion Castaneda, Madison Castro, Kassandra Diaz, Austin Flores, Daniel Flores, Fernando Flores, Timothy Franklin, Aurora Garcia, Lori Gauntt, Gilbert Gutierrez, Sam Hernandez, Emily Herrington, Sage Landeros, Samuel Longoria, Grayson Moore, Madison Saldivar, and Skylyn Vasquez.
Students advancing to state in miscellaneous ensembles are (*denotes students advancing in multiple events): Caleb Aguirre, Joseph Alcozer*, Steve Alford, Madison Alvarado, Jeremiah Armijo, Marie Azua, Ben Bozeman, Megan Brown, Jayden Brush, Santiago Benzor, Jade Cardiel, Hannah Cardy, Orion Castaneda*, Aracely Castillo, Maritza Castro, Madison Castro, Max Cavazos, Patrick Ceniseros, Kim Cervera, Estrella Chairez, Karen Chavez, Emily Chavez, Catherine Delgado, Alexis Delgado, Ingrid DeSantiago, Valerie DeSantiago, Kassandra Diaz, Derek Dominguez, Brendan Duran, Alyssa Escalante, Janelly Esparza, Anastasia Espinosa, Marlen Estrada, Leslie Felan, Santos Figueroa, Fernando Flores*, Andrew Flores, Tristian Flores, Austin Flores, Daniel Flores, Jesus Flores-Rios, Alejandra Fraire, Emily Franklin, Timothy Franklin*, Avery Gallegos, Maria Garcia, Andres Garcia, Aurora Garcia*, Elijah Garibay, Gabby Garza, Austin Gauntt, Lori Gauntt*, Harlie Garcia, Mikael Gill, Raylin Gonzales, Raiden Gonzales, Jorge Gonzalez, Gilbert Gutierrez*, Camarie Henderson, Samantha Hernandez*, Tatum Hernandez, Emily Herrington*, Amanda Holt, Alyssa Hurta, Antonio Jaime, Jeremyah Juanes, Caleb Knox, Krista Landeros, Sage Landeros*, Maria Lister, Samuel Longoria*, Serena Lopez, Jerric Lopez, Jaicei Luera, Lilian Lujan, Paizly Madrigal, Andrea Marin, Perla Medina, Sara Mendoza, Dominic Mendoza, Virginia Monreal, Miranda Montoya, Araceli Monzon, Grayson Moore*, McKayleigh Moore, Gabe Mora, Mahogany Nails, Khalil Olalde, Danielle Olivas, Kaitlynn Ortiz, Adrianna Pena, Tanner Pena, Carlos Plascencia, Jordyn Ramirez, Zach Ramsey, Arika Raybal, Alejandra Reyes, Malachi Reyes, Ariel Reyna, Reed Riley, Megan Ruhland, Christian Rushin, Zach Rushing, Marissa Salazar, Madison Saldivar*, Anna Saucedo, Kathana Smith, Lizzie Terry, Matthew Tijerina, Isaac Vasquez, Skylyn Vasquez*, Joshua Wolovnik, Cody Wright, Attila Wynn, Aneka Wynn, Eliah Ybarra, and Marisol Zambrano.
Directors for the band program are Anthony Gonzales, David Martinez, John Jones, Katie Ziegler, Mark Franklin, Tracy Abbott, Tim Kelley, and Jerry Hernandez.
The Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest will be held Memorial Day Weekend at the University of Texas in Austin.
