Fifty-one Mount Pleasant High School Band Students earned first division medals at the UIL Region IV Solo and Ensemble Contest at First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs on February 6th. Forty-four of those earned first divisions on Class 1 musical selections and have advanced to the State Solo and Ensemble contest to be held in Austin at the end of May.
To earn a first division medal and advance to state, these students logged many hours of practice over the past three months on difficult musical selections chosen by the Texas University Interscholastic League. They then had to perform the work before a judge, a challenge for any young musician. The first division awards they earned represent a superior performance and are the same as a first-place finish.
Qualifying for state as part of an ensemble are Chris Araiza, Tommy Arredondo, Brian Ayala, Manoa Bagsic, Isai Baltazar, Jayden Beckham, Jordi Bello, Hannah Bowles, Madison Carpenter, Ezekiel Castenada, Maiko Estrada, Alvin Gonzalez, Jimmy Gonzalez, Anna Harris, Nia Jackson, Juan Juarez, Isaiah Martinez, Pablo Mata, Leslie Mayo, Jair Moreno, Alejandro Nava, David Nava, Nayeli Palacios, Neida Perez, Pedro Portillo, Angel Quistian, Abril Ramirez, Brian Ramirez, Lizette Ramirez, Enrique Ramos, Holly Reese, Eli Rider, Jordan Rivas, John Rodriquez, Eric Salazar, Nick Segovia, Juan Serna, Brock Shavers, Jesus Vasquez, Jerrius Vickers, Hunter Williams, Donovan Young, and Pedro Zuniga.
Four students including Bagsic, Carpenter, Jackson, and Martinez also qualified for state with solo performances.
“This is the largest group Mount Pleasant High School has ever had advance to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest,” said Dr. Theodus Luckett, MPISD Director of Fine Arts and MPHS Goin’ Gold Band Director. “We congratulate the students and their band directors. We wish them success at State in May.”
Photo: MPHS Goin’ Gold Band Students Going to State Solo and Ensemble Contest