Nine Mount Pleasant High School band students have been chosen for the All Region Honor Band. Two more were selected as alternates. The students were selected at after audition held on Friday, December 9 at North Lamar High School in Paris, TX.

Chosen for the All-Region Band were Brandon Brown –Trombone, Colton Fikes-Baritone, Agustin Garcia-clarinet, Jack Grissom-French Horn, Eduardo Landeros-trumpet, Meg Lomeli-flute, Macy Russell-Tenor saxophone, Alexis Veasley-bass clarinet, and Philip Yox-French horn. Selected as Alternates were Kendale Gray-Trumpet and Abraham Ramirez-French horn.

 Garcia, Grissom and Lomeli were previously selected for the 9^th grade All-Region Honor Band. Grissom advanced to area competition the first week in January where he will audition for the All-Sate band.

Each year, approximately 130 students are selected for the all-region band from the approximately 250 students that tryout. The students trying out represent ten high schools: Texas High, Sulphur Springs, Paris, Greenville, North Lamar, Chisum, Pine Tree, Marshall, Kilgore, and Mt. Pleasant High Schools.

According to MPHS Band Director Richard Eckstein, the students who try out represent a select group of players from the well over 1,000 band students in the bands across Texas Music Education Association Region IV. Students who earn placement in the all-region band are chosen in an extensive audition process involving the students’ performance of three very challenging audition pieces, in front of their peers, and for a blind panel of judges. Students typically work for months and spend many hours outside of the school day practicing and preparing for the audition.

Pictured: Front row (l-r) Ramirez, Lomeli, Russell, Gray

  Back Row (l-r): Grissom, Yox, Veasley, Brown, Fikes, Landeros.

  Not pictured: Garcia & Grissom 

 Freshman Jack Grissom scored enough points during his audition to advance to Area where he will audition for All-State Band.

The all-region bands will be presenting a concert at Mt. Pleasant High School Auditorium at 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The all-region band students will rehearse for the concert on Friday afternoon, January 20, and will rehearse throughout the day on Saturday, January 21, 2012 for the event.

“I invite everyone to come to this free concert,” said Eckstein. “Our MPHS students have worked very hard to earn this honor as have all the students chosen for the All-Region Honor Band. They are truly the best of the best.”

Eleven Mount Pleasant High School Goin’ Gold Band 9^th grade members have been selected for the All-Region Honor Band.  They were selected after tryouts on Monday December 5. 

 Making the All-Region Band are Brantlee Alexander-trombone, Brennan Davis-tuba, Agustin Garcia-clarinet, Jack Grissom-French horn, Katelyn Holt-trumpet, Alexa Hughes-flute, Meg Lomeli-flute, Amy Mason-clarinet, Presley McClendon-French horn, Cameron Summers-trumpet and Cesar Villa-trombone.

 Meg Lomeli made first chair in the flute section and Jack Grissom, first chair in the French horn section.

“I am very proud of all these students and congratulate them on this accomplishment,” said MPHS Band Director Richard Eckstein. “It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare the this audition. The students have to perform a musical work alone before a panel of judges.

 The success of our freshmen at the All-Region auditions also speaks well of our Junior High and Middle School band programs, Eckstein added. “A number of these students made All-Region band when they were in Junior High school. They are dedicated musicians and I look forward to their accomplishments in years to come.”

 First row (l-r) Holt, Villa
Second Row (l-r): Garcia, Lomeli, Hughes, McClendon
Third Row (l-r): Summers, Grissom, Alexander, Mason, and Davis 

 The students will perform at the free All-Region Band Concert Saturday, December 10 at 4 p.m. at Sullivan Auditorium on the campus of Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.